spiced nuts for salads

At gourmet club earlier this month Kiana made a green salad with a dried cranberry vinaigrette and spiced nuts.  The combination was delicious.  The original recipe calls for pecans but Kiana used walnuts which were equally delightful.

spiced nuts for salads (my friend Kiana)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
salt and ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
2 cups pecan or walnut halves
1 tablespoon sugar

Melt butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.  Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, cinnamon, cloves and allspice then stir in nuts.  Toast nuts, stirring often until the color of nuts depens slightly, 6 to 8 minutes.  Transfer to bowl, toss with sugar then spread out on plate to cool.