Little powerhouses of vitamins and antioxidants, pistachios are a festive, flavorful and a fantastic “green” snack.

Spicy Pistachio, Nut and Seed Mix

1 1/2 cups pecan halves

3/4 cup pine nuts

3/4 cup pumpkin seeds

1/3 cup pistachios

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

3/4 to 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
2. In a large bowl, combine pecans, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, pistachios and oil. Mix in sugar, 3/4 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper and salt; make sure all nuts are covered. Season with additional cayenne pepper if desired.
3. Grease a 10 x 15-inch baking sheet with cooking spray. Spoon nuts evenly across pan and place in oven.
4. Bake about 15 to 20 minutes or until nuts are brown, shake pan frequently. Remove from oven and cool.

Makes 20 servings.

Nutrititional Information Per Serving (1/20 of recipe): Calories 179, Fat 18g, Saturated Fat 2g, Unsaturated Fat 16g, Sodium 59mg, Potassium 23mg, Carbohydrates 5g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 2g, Protein 4g, Dietary Exchanges 1 Fat

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of DLife; through ECES, Inc., Electronic Color Editorial Services.