Nuts for Christmas

A bowl of nuts on a table with a couple of nutcrackers will always look attractive.

It is like an invitation to sit down with somebody, crack a few nuts and have a conversation.

Not only are nuts delicious, they are also a healthy snack.

Yes, some nuts are high in cholesterol, some bags of nuts you buy are full of salt and unfortunately some people are allergic to nuts, so nuts might not be for everybody.

The nuts in the photograph are hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds and walnuts.

I found a few recipes to spice it up a bit.

Nigella Lawson's has a recipe for spiced nuts from her book Nigella Christmas.

Here are a few other recipes for both spicy and sweet nut mixtures that are all easy to make.