Spiced Almonds

__________________________________________________

             FOOD FUNNY
__________________________________________________

Thanks to Susan in Sacramento for this timely advice:

Eating Tips for the Holidays

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet
table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see
carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can't find it any
other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000
calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an
"eggnog-aholic" or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it! Have one for me.
Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of
gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of
your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or
whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports
car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control
your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat
other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New
Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.
This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the
buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position
yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before
becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of
shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin and mincemeat - have a slice of each.
Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always
have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party
or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread
tips: Start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

__________________________________________________

             TODAY'S RECIPE
__________________________________________________

This recipe can also be made with walnuts, pecans, cashews, or filberts,
but I particularly like the almond variety.

Spiced Almonds

3 Tbs (45 ml) vegetable oil
2 cups (500 ml) whole blanched almonds
1/2 cup (125 ml) plus 1 Tbs (15 ml) sugar
2 tsp (10 ml) salt
2 tsp (10 ml) ground cumin
1 - 2 tsp (5 - 10 ml) red pepper flakes, or to taste

Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over moderate heat. Add the almonds and
sprinkle 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the sugar over them. Saute, stirring and
shaking the pan frequently, until the almonds are golden brown and the
sugar has caramelized. Meanwhile, combine the remaining sugar, salt,
cumin, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Transfer the almonds to the
spice mixture and toss to coat. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Makes about 2 cups (500 ml).
Received on Sun Dec 23 19:43:50 2007