Cream Cheese with Honey and Candied Pecans

Remember the graduation party I was doing all the baking for? It was on Saturday. I prepared breads, cupcakes, cookies and other confections, potato salad, Bacon and Ranch Pasta salad, fruit bowls and a few other things. I had to call for another driver to come pick up goodies because it didn't all fit into my car.

My friend's youngest child now has a diploma and is currently going at the speed of fast forward getting ready for his impending move to join the collegiate ranks at UND in the fall. Wow! When I first met them he wasn't even in junior high yet!

Speaking of little boys growing up too fast...look at Walnut in his tie. He woke up that morning and was so excited to dress like daddy. He was actually the one that picked out the tie! And he wore it all day too.

We had so much fun celebrating with friends. Laughing, eating and reminiscing the days when we were young and getting into trouble as teenagers. Those days seem like they shouldn't be that long ago, but this summer is my 10 year high school reunion already! 10 YEARS!

Here is a delisous spread I served with the sweet quick breads at the party. It was so good, my favorite was the spread on the pumpkin bread.

Cream Cheese with Honey and Candied Pecans

1 - 8 oz package cream cheese

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup chopped pecans

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons brown sugar

Melt butter in a skillet and brown slightly over medium heat. Add pecans and brown sugar and stir to coat the pecans with butter and sugar. Let cook about 3-5 minutes until sugar has melted and sauce is bubbly. Transfer pecans and sauce from pan onto a plate lined with parchment paper and set aside to let sugar and harden around the pecans.

In a bowl, add cream cheese and honey and whip with a hand mixer. Add pecans (you might have to break them up a bit) and mix just for about 10-15 seconds to break up the pecans a bit more and get them incorporated into the cream cheese mixture.

Spread on your favorite breads, bagels, french toast...whatever!

Enjoy!!