Spiced Walnuts

I pick my walnuts from a local tree, clean them and crack them myself—this recipe is worthy of my hard-won walnuts! The rich, buttery taste will fool you, as there's not a drop of butter in them. Not overly sweet, the nuts get nice and crispy from the egg bath. They work well as an appetizer and are an always-welcome hostess gift. They also freeze well, so you can enjoy them any time of year. —Sherri Starkin, Lyle, Washington