Candied walnuts: Nueces garapiñadas

Candied nuts are a favorite treat in Mexico, and may be made with walnuts, pecans, almonds or peanuts. Walnuts are most prevalent during the winter holiday season. This sweet is one of the things we can't resist while walking around Cholula's December fair, with its booths of candy, ornaments, and decorations of every description
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Ingredients

• 2 cups walnut halves
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• ½ cup water
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoon chili lime market spice
• butter

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large heavy skillet, set over medium heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the sugar has melted and turned a brown color. It should coat the nuts evenly.
Drop the nuts onto a lightly oiled cookie sheet and allow them to cool completely and harden. When hardened, remove them with the aid of a metal spatula, breaking up nuts that have stuck together. This is the traditional method for making candied nuts in Mexico. Alternatively, the syrup-coated nuts can be spread out on a lightly oiled cookie sheet as soon as the sugar has melted, and baked at 375º F until brown. Serves 8 as a snack.