The other night I discovered some bourbon hidden in the back of a cupboard, so of course what would one do when one discovers Bourbon Hidden in the Back of a Cupboard?
I think one would make a Manhattan.
Now, Manhattans used to be my drink of choice, but they are a little sweet for me these days. I still like them but, since they’re so sweet, I thought we needed something spicy to go along with them…
I had some cashew pieces that I had purchased at an Indian grocery store, so I toasted them in the wok with a little bit of oil, a lot of Cayenne pepper, a lot of salt, and the zest of one lime…
These nuts were perfect with the Manhattans!
Just be sure not to toast them until they get too dark. It's easy to do, and obviously the amount of Cayenne and the amount of salt is up to you.
You can even temper the spice with a little tiny bit of sugar.