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I’m a snacker. I would rather eat ten little meals a day than three big ones. Truly, I would be fully satisfied with a snack dispenser attached to my hip like those old-fashioned coin changer belts that waitresses and gas station attendants wore back in the day when we used change and we used gas station attendants. keep the change you filthy animal (name the movie)

When it comes to snacking, Cheetos and Bugles might top the list for their most satisfying crunches and salt infusions, and if either could be classified as real food. Might as well eat carpet threads and paper towels for the same nutritional value, yet with a bit more fiber.

So, how can we have ready-made snacks that are made of real food and that are satisfying? Go nuts.

We’re big fans of nuts in this household. Confession, I have a nut drawer. True, we can’t find a place for my husband’s wine gadgets, three tools and book, because I have used all of the rightful space with every cut of every nut.

Are you thinking – she’s nuts? Are you thinking if she just gave organizational love to the other drawer there’d be room for wine gadgets? Are you thinking she needs more wine than nuts?

Walnuts alone are one of the top five best foods we can ever eat! They deserve prominence in our home and diet. Almonds second, and then just some macadamia, pine nuts, hazelnuts, cashews, etc and seeds like pepitas, sesame, sunflower, etc. to boost our other food so we’re not bored with it. It’s better than adding crushed Cheetos to a dish, although I’m tempted with this one.

Now to the recipe. Anyone been to Union Square Cafe? This New York restaurant might be known as much for their bar nuts as for their delectable modern Italian fare.They serve warmed, rosemary and cayenne spiced nuts. Well, Mother Ina went one step further using chipotle powder instead of cayenne. She was right. Chipotle powder, available at most WF stores and online, should earn a spot on your spice rack, because it adds heat with a layer of pepper smokiness.

I changed Ina’s nut combination (ouch) to reflect a healthier mix. Recently, I served these nuts at a party along with other much more impressive foods made by people far more skilled than me, and yet, guests made special mention of loving these spiced nuts. You gotta love nice friends like that.

Although I could eat these handily in a day or two, best left for future parties or future snacking.