Cinnamon Spiced Walnuts

These spiced nuts are nicely flavored and not overly sweet. 

They are great on salads, yogurt, ice cream, or just by themselves.

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 - 5 cups walnut halves

Method:
Combine sugar, water, cinnamon and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add half of the walnut halves, stirring for a few minutes. Remove nuts from syrup and place on a rack with foil or waxed paper underneath. Add remaining walnut halves to syrup, stir and remove to rack. Separate and dry thoroughly, for about half an hour. Preheat oven to 350*. Transfer rack of nuts to a foil or parchment lined baking sheet. (If the rack will not fit inside of the baking sheet, remove the walnuts and place them directly onto the lined pan.) Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely.  Store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator.

Notes: I save any leftover cinnamon syrup to flavor oatmeal and french toast egg dip.