Recipes by Zola - Asian Zola Nuts

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Asian Zola Nuts

Zola Gorgon

The Shortened Week...

Is this a crazy week or what! The only thing I can think of that would be worse for my schedule would be to have Christmas land on Wednesday.

I am writing this on the day after Christmas. I've been running like a chicken with my head cut off all day; frantically jumping from one project to the next. I don't know if it's the new vitamins I took this morning giving me extra drive, or just the fact that I'm trying to jam five days of work into two and a half.

I was happy to give everyone the day before Christmas off and next week on New Year's Eve we will be off too. I just never do a great job of factoring in the number of things I'll be trying to get done. I keep thinking that with so many of our clients taking the whole week off between the holidays, that I'll have peace, and can get my desk cleaned up, all my filing done, organize year end tax issues, buy the gifts for folks I was not going to see on Christmas, get my banking done and still have energy to make dinner tonight.

I know, whine, whine, whine. Just think if I was trying to do that with kids and/or grandkids in my house. I'd be fully gray by noon.

I really have so many things to be grateful for. This has been a hellacious year and I'm grateful every day that I get up and walk; let alone get all of my to-do list done. I was so proud of myself today. I actually sort of "jumped" off a curb. I wasn't even afraid I'd fall! Then, later down the block I was behind some folks that were walking pretty slowly. Maybe it was the vitamins again, but in talking to myself I said ,"I wonder if I can take this up a gear and speed up and PASS them", and I did. I can be so proud of the little things these days. I'm getting better every day. I really am. My PT person actually allowed me to do leg presses and to ride a recumbent sort of elliptical machine the other day. I felt almost like an athlete in training. Or training wheels, maybe. But it's all progress.

My cats are healthy. My husband is happy and my house is clean, so I guess that all makes me happy too.

I wish for happiness for all of you too; no matter how you measure it. I get notes from so many of you that have travails you have to get through and yet you seem so upbeat. I see hope in each one of you and I hope you see it in each other. The world really is a small place. Now, if we could only work on world peace a little more successfully. I guess we'll just have to start with each other and take it one baby step at a time.

Have a wonderful New Year's Eve celebration; whether you do yours in a tuxedo or a comfy sweater; and I'll be back to you "next year".

Happy New Year!

Today's recipe is a prefect snack before dinner or when watching a game, TV show or movie. Those of you who've been following me for years realize I have several "Zola Nut" recipes on my website at www.dinnerwithzola.com. This is my newest creation. Asian Zola Nuts.

Try 'em. They were a big hit here on Christmas.

Asian Zola Nuts

2 cans of mixed, roasted nuts or approximately 4 cups of assorted nuts. You choose the assortment. They will all work.
1 cup of Asian green peas (These are dried peas you'll find in the produce section)
Olive oil spray
2 Tbl of lite soy sauce (or regular)
1 tsp of Chinese Five Spice mix
1/2 tsp of cayenne
salt (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a 9 X 13" oven proof pan pour in your nuts and the green peas. Spray with olive oil until coated on the top.

Now sprinkle on the soy sauce and stir until well mixed.

Sprinkle on the Five Spice and the cayenne. These are both "to taste" so the amount I am giving you is approximate. I only put on a bit of salt if I used unsalted nuts; otherwise you don't need it. After you make these the first time you can decide if you want more or less of the Asian spices and the salt.

Roast at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. Then stir and roast for another 10 minutes at 375 degrees. You will know when they are done by the fact that the soy sauce has all soaked into the nuts and they don't stick to the bottom of the pan. The liquid needs to get absorbed or the nuts will remain sticky after they cool and they won't store as well. Even if your first batch is a bit sticky they will still taste great.

Enjoy!
Cheers,
Zola

Send email to Zola at dinnerwithzola@hotmail.com.

This news arrived on: 12/31/2007

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