Sugared Pecans

The very first time I made these it was a DISASTER!  They looked like they had been dunked in tar and left to die.  I swore them off after that.  My problem was my boiling time.  When a recipe says to "bring to boil", the image in my mind is that boil you get when you filled your pot with water for pasta, turned the burner on high, then got a phone call and forgot about it until you start to hear the sizzling sound of water over boiling onto the burner.  I've learned over the years that's NOT what "bring to a boil" means.  It simply means, let it start to bubble up a little bit.  I'm kinda slow sometimes.  So I gave Sugared Pecans another chance, because they're just so stinkin' good, and boy did they redeem themselves!

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/3 cup water

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. salt

1 lb. pecan  halves

Mix sugar, water, spices, and salt in a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil (haha!) and cook without stirring until mixture "spins a thread".

Time out!  For something to "spin a thread" it just means this.  Take a spoon and dip it into the boiling sugar.  As you're pulling the spoon out, swing it back and forth really fast and if the sugar looks like this then it's "spinning a thread".

Or if you have a candy thermometer, let it reach 236 degrees.
Remove from heat and add pecans.  Mix until a solid mass is formed and coating becomes very sugary.  Separate nut halves onto wax paper while still hot.  Let stand until cool.  Store in air tight container.  These little gems make great gifts at Christmas time.  Just line a pretty little gift box with some tissue paper and hand out to your kids' school teachers, Sunday School teachers, mail man, bank tellers...whomever.