Vanilla Maple Walnuts

So I was watching a "Face Off" marathon on TV yesterday after work and was also indulging in a favorite pastime, looking at Punchfork- a quick look at new recipes from top food blogs.  I came across these walnuts on Elana's Pantry and was thinking I had a lot of the stuff I needed to make them!  I also had a Girls Night with my Bible study ladies that was rapidly approaching and needed to bring something.  With 30 minutes before I had to leave, I finally got up (leaving in the middle of an animatronic eye disaster) and threw this together.

It's so easy!

Here's what you need:

2 cups raw walnuts
1Tb olive oil
2 Tb pure maple syrup (agave or honey work too-though technically, honey isn't vegan)
1/4 tsp salt
1 vanilla bean
dash of ground cinnamon

Put the walnuts and oil in a pan over high heat.  Once the nuts start sizzling, turn the flame down to medium low and toast for a few minutes.  Meanwhile, split your vanilla bean down the middle and scrape out the delicious, fragrant, holy paste that resides in there with a knife.

Add the maple syrup and cook 1-2 minutes more, then add the salt, vanilla and cinnamon, tossing to distribute the vanilla.  All ready for snacking!  Store in an air tight container.  Or in a bowl under two donuts that you also got at girls night.

The ladies were blown away!  I was impressed too!  I love the little flecks of vanilla bean and the light sweetness of the maple syrup.  They just started selling vanilla beans at Trader Joe's and they are pretty affordable!  I bet you could use some vanilla extract in it's place if you didn't want to buy these beautiful, sainted beans.

I'm kind of new to the vanilla bean thing.  But they are worth it and more.