Buttery Toasted Pecans

Patiently roasting pecans (the entire 25 minutes!) at 325° to coax out their flavor and essential oils takes them from good to great.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 4 cups pecan halves
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Toss together butter and pecans. Spread pecans in a single layer in a jelly-roll pan; bake 25 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Remove from oven, and sprinkle with salt and pepper, tossing to coat. Cool completely. Store up to 1 week.

Julia Reed, Southern Living DECEMBER 2013