Chinese Crackerjacks

A great snack, this has everything but a prize. The textures are terrific, and the flavors are a tongue-provoking blend. The recipe comes from Barton Levenson, an unsung hero among Berkeley’s women chefs and a real Svengali of flavors.

A spice grinder is a must, unless you have a mortar and pestle and a lot of muscle. Or, you might use your coffee grinder, but only after cleaning it thoroughly.