Roasted Pecan Butter

It's sweet. It's nutty. And it's oh so good. If you haven't yet had pecan butter, you have to give it a try. The key to exceptional nut butter is the quality of the nut. Choose the fresh nuts stored in bulk and rotated frequently. Organic nuts are ideal.

Toasted pecans blended with a food processor turn out scrumptiously smooth with maple undertones, without any added oil. A pinch of salt and a dash of cinnamon enrich the flavor. Try it on your favorite breakfast bread or whole grain crackers, or smooth pecan butter over sliced apple.

Makes about 1 cup or 16 Tbsp.

Ingredients:

• 8 ozs Pecans (about 2 cups)

• 1/4 tsp Sea Salt (add more or less to taste)

• 1/8 tsp Cinnamon (start with a pinch and add more to taste)

Directions:

1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees on the roast setting (if it has one - if not, just bake is fine).
2. Spread the pecans out on a sheet pan in a single layer and toast for about 7 minutes. Remove pan from oven, stir the pecans and toast for another 5-7 minutes until just golden brown (don't let them burn!).
3. Pour the toasted pecans into a food processor or high-speed blender and let them cool for several minutes. Then blend the pecans, pausing often to scrape down the sides with a spatula. The mixture will be crumbly at first, but will eventually blend into super-creamy goodness. Be careful not to let the mixture get too hot, which can cause oil separation. You might have to stop and let the mixture/machine cool down for a bit just to be safe. The amount of blending time required depends on your machine - an older food processor might take ten to fifteen minutes to turn the pecans into pecan butter, while fancy Blendtec or Vitamix blenders can turn it into butter in a minute or two.
4. Add a pinch of sea salt and a dash of cinnamon (if using). Blend again, taste, and add more salt or cinnamon if needed.
5. Pour into a small jar, seal it with a lid, and store it in the refrigerator for good measure. This pecan butter will keep well, refrigerated, for up to one month or so - obviously, don't eat it if you see or smell any signs that it has gone bad.

Variations:

• Make it Raw Instead: Skip the roasting and use raw nuts.
• Sweeten It Up: Add a few drops of liquid stevia to taste.