• 4 cups whole raw cashews
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder

I love everything about having company. I love sitting with a friend having a cup of tea and scones or welcoming friends whether it be a family of four or thirty of our closest friends to our home. For me the joy first begins in the preparation. When it comes to my home and cooking I’m such a girly girl.

I love getting my home ready for their arrival, preparing yummy recipes, welcoming people to our home, and then enjoying the time spent eating the food together.

While I enjoy cooking, what feeds my soul is to see the joy in people’s faces as they take that first bite or go back for seconds! Around good food made with love adults become kids again and kids learn the power of connecting through a meal.

Three Hoorays for Mike!

My hubby is so good to me. He’s an engineer so he is generally a pretty quiet guy. For those of you who have an engineer for a spouse you know what I mean and for those who do not here you go! This is a funny video sent to us once. We all laughed — hard!

A deep thinker he is. He is usually happy to just sit, to be still and to read and learn about new things. His job is a very challenging one and so during the week he enjoys coming home to a quiet home and a yummy dinner with his family gathered around the table. I love all of these qualities!

He also enjoys watching me be happy. I am a very lucky girl. On the weekends or during extended holidays like we just enjoyed, he lets me entertain friends and family pretty much whenever I want to. I thank him on a regular basis. I love my hubby.This feeds my soul.

The other day as we were cleaning up from a holiday party, he asked me (with a sweet smile on his face) if I had fun.  I hugged him. I thanked him for his help and for his appreciation.

Spicy Cocktail Nuts

While I love my sweetly spiced nuts, I served these delicious and addicting (you’ve been forewarned) spicy nuts at our party this time. They were yummy and super easy to make. I also chose to use cashews becasue it is the only nut my son Alex can eat. I also thought the buttery and slightly sweet flavor of cashews would marry well with spicy and savory herbs.

Place your oven rack in the middle of your oven. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the nuts in the bottom of your broiler pan or on a cookie sheet. Drizzle with oil and toss to cover. Add all of your spices and herbs and toss to coat.

Bake for 6 minutes, stir and bake 5 minutes more. Be sure to check periodically as ovens vary. You will see the nuts brown up slightly and then they will be done. The nose knows and so as soon as you smell them they are ready!