Buttered pecans and candied pecans

Buttered pecans are for things like butter pecan ice cream (see recipe on this blog) and pecan chocolate chip cookies. Candied pecans are good for snacks and for gifts.

INSTRUCTIONS for BUTTERED PECANS

Add 2/3 cup of coarsely chopped pecans, 2 Tbl unsalted butter, and one healthy pinch of salt to a skillet and heat over medium heat. Saute and stir occasionally until the pecans are fragrant, 3-5 mins. Pour pecans onto a plate to allow them to cool.

If mixing into freshly made ice cream, first flash-freeze the cooled pecans on a cookie sheet before adding them toward the end of the time of churning the ice cream base.


INSTRUCTIONS for CANDIED PECANS

Cover a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil (to help with cleanup).

In a small bowl, mix together 3 Tbl of packed brown sugar, 1/4 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, and 1 Tbl of water. Set aside.

Then in a medium traditional skillet, place 2 Tbl of butter and 2 cups of pecan halves over medium heat and saute for 3-5 minutes, until the pecans are just beginning to turn fragrant.

Quickly add in the brown sugar mixture, stir for 15-30 seconds to coat the pecans, and then turn them out onto the prepared baking sheet to let them cool.