California and a Trail Mix

The area now known as California was settled by ranchers. It was the spanish and Mexican governments that encouraged settlement of this area. A ranch was defined when a land - grant title issued by the government was given. This title ensured property ownership rights to land.The land was normally devoted to raising cattle and sheep. Workers on these ranches included the native Americans that learned to speak spanish when they lived in the missions set up by spanish missionaries. 
Ranches are still recognized by the California government. Ranches were designed with boundaries with access with water

Cattle Ranchers raised their cattle more for their hides rather than beef as there was no market for large amounts of beef. When the Gold Rush occured thousands of miners, fortune seekers and their families flooded into California. The need of meat was great and cattle prices soared with the great demand. 

California became the 31st state on September 9th 1850. To celebrate the great state of California and the vast land of the past I decided to share a recipe that many would have loved along those long trails. This trail mix recipe is a bit different as it offers fruit, nuts and chocolate. Yummy

CHOCOLATE CHIPOTLE TRAIL MIX

1 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cup dried unsweetened cranberries

For the nuts: 
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 large egg white
1 cup whole unsalted, unroasted almonds
1 cup roasted, unsalted cashews
1 cup unsalted pumpkinseeds

Preheat oven to 325°.

Combine sugar, salt, and spices in a small bowl; whisk together.

Place egg white in a large bowl; stir with a whisk until foamy (be sure the bowl is completely clean as if you were making a meringue). Add the almonds, cashews, and pumpkinseeds; toss well to coat. Sprinkle with spice mixture; toss well to coat. Spread nuts in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 325° for 15 minutes, stirring once. Turn oven off. Remove pan from oven; stir snack mix. Immediately return pan to oven for an additional 15 minutes (leave oven off). Remove pan from oven and place on a wire rack; cool completely.

Mix together the nuts, cranberries, and chocolate chips once the nuts have cooled completely.  Store trail mix in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.