SMOKY PEANUTS (about 2 cups)

The Planters Peanut logo, “Mr. Peanut”, was created by a 13 year old boy in a logo contest sponsored by the company in 1916. He won a grand prize of $5.

2 lightly beaten egg whites

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons lapsang souchong tea leaves (a smoky black tea from China’s Fujian Province)

½ teaspoon salt

2 cups salted cocktail peanuts

1. Put a rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 350*. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Whisk together egg white, sugar, tea and salt in a small bowl. Stir in peanuts and spread in one layer on baking sheet.

3. Bake, stirring occasionally, until nuts are dry, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool on baking sheet on a rack. (Nuts will crisp as they cool.)

NOTE: The peanuts can be kept for up to 5 days in an airtight container at room temperature.

from Gourmet Today