Almonds to the Rescue

It's that time of year when company stops by unexpectedly and having quick little gifts is a necessity. Instead of the usual sweet treats, opt for a salty (and healthier) option that is beyond simple to make and very comforting. A Pinterest session had me stumble on this recipe for herbed almonds. I know that the "go to" this season is sweets, but I think that people really appreciate something different. Don't get me wrong... I am most definitely not encouraging that the sweets get shunned, I am giving people a feasible option. All it is is blanched almonds, olive oil, fresh thyme, salt and pepper. A blanched almond is just an almond without the skin on it. You can buy blanched almonds at the store or make your own by quickly soaking them and using a towel to rub the skin off. The best thing about this recipe is that you can play with it and make your own combinations. The earthy aroma that the almonds have makes it seem like you have been slaving away for hours, but all you need to do it heat up the olive oil, put in the almonds, toss with the thyme, salt and pepper, and cool on a baking sheet. It takes no time at all, but it is an easy way to make them a little more sophisticated. I know that I am definitely excited to make a slightly different batch, maybe using rosemary. Plus, this is a healthy, filling, quick, and yummy snack or easy gift to throw together. It is also a great snack to have out when company is over. So run by the store and grab some blanched almonds and make a batch...you will be pleasantly surprised.

Sugar and Spice

Everyone loves a great snack mix, but most of the time I find that they are usually way too salty. I was thinking about what I could eat for a snack because I wanted something slightly sweet, but also savory and somewhat healthy. I decided it was time to visit my favorite search engine, Pinterest. A quick search took me to this recipe for a sweet and spicy nut mix from myrecipes.com. What was even better was that it's totally easy and you can pretty much throw whatever you want in it. I would probably add some pretzels to it, but I have a non pretzel lover in my life, so I left them out.

There are basically four simple steps to this. First, mix all the spices together to create the most amazing smelling spice mixture you will ever encounter. As a side note...this might also be a fantastic dry rub, so maybe I'll try it out and let you know how it goes. Second, whisk an egg white until foamy. Toss nuts in the egg white and sprinkle with the spices. Toss and bake on a parchment lined baking sheet. It's amazing how the egg white creates this delicious coating on the nuts that cover them in a little bit of sugar, but provides the spicy kick that everyone craves. It's hard to tell in the picture, but I promise these aren't hum drum nuts!

There will be this very tempting aroma drifting through your house when you take them out of the oven. But...make sure you resist just long enough until it has cooled down, and then dig in! This is the perfect snack to have at your next get together, as it is sophisticated and full of flavor. Don't bother putting it in a bowl because it probably won't last long. This super simple recipe is almost like a neutral piece of clothing that can be dressed up or down to match whatever mood you are in. You can control the flavor profile so that you don't end up with just a salty taste. Try it out and let me know what you use and how you make it your own!