Walnuts
2 cups walnut halves
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons dark rum or 3 tablespoons sake
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 teaspoon ground ginger
Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
kosher salt
Assembly
2 -5 tablespoons Amaretto (or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and 2 1/2 tsp. water) or 1 -3 tablespoon Amaretto, to taste (or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and 2 1/2 tsp. water)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 lb dried apricot halves
Line a jelly-roll pan with foil.
Spread the nuts on the foil lined pan.
Combine the remaining ingredients for the walnuts, except the kosher salt, in a saucepan and heat until the sugar is dissolved.
Pour the sauce over the nuts, making sure to coat them well.
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
Place the toasted nuts on lightly oiled foil and sprinkle with the salt if desired.
Assembly: Add the Amaretto to the cream cheese and mix well.
Place a teaspoon of the cheese on each apricot and top with a walnut.