Apple Spinach Salad with Spiced Nuts

For my first catering event (ha!) I made these panini and this salad. I was a big fan of this salad. It was delicious and refreshing. But I afterwards I thought how delicious this would be in all seasons - especially with the fall apple harvest.
This salad is really simple - make the nuts ahead and it will only take you a few minutes to do. The nuts are my favorite part, but don't get scared when you see the secret ingredient, you can barely notice it's there.

Apple Spinach Salad with Spiced Nuts

1 bag prewashed spinach
1-2 granny smith apples, cored and sliced thinly
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup spiced caramelized nuts (recipe below)

Place all ingredients in a bowl. (Now that's a difficult recipe!) And top with apple cider vinaigrette (see recipe below)

Spiced Caramelized Nuts

1/2 cup pecans (or favorite nut)
1 cup white sugar
1 small pinch of cayenne (don't get scared!)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Combine sugar, cayenne, cinnamon, and nutmeg thouroughly. Place in skillet over medium heat. When sugar starts to melt stir in nuts. Stir occasionally. Once all sugar has melted and nuts are coated, place nuts on parchment paper to cool. Eat plain, in a salad, or on top of ice cream.

Apple Cider Vinaigrette 

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp dijion mustard
1/2 tsp sugar
salt and pepper

Place all ingredients in a curet and shake.