Another favorite gift for the holidays is nuts, of any kind. These are my own version of semi-homemade. Clearly, I don’t grow the nuts, but boy! Do I add value! Candied pecans, chili-roasted almonds, roasted rosemary cashews (below), sugar & spice walnuts, I love ‘em all!

Nuts take a little more time than yesterday’s amaretto, but they’re well worth it. Wrap them in a pretty, expensive jar or can or—even cheaper!—a festive cellophane bag.

Roasted Rosemary Cashews
(from The Barefoot Contessa)

1 pound unsalted roasted cashews
2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
½ teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350°. Spread cashews out on a sheet pan. Toast until warm, about 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine rosemary, cayenne, brown sugar, salt and melted butter. Thoroughly toss toasted nuts with spiced butter. Cool and package as gifts.