Maybe you remember some of my sister’s previous posts on this blog? Posts like this amazing Caramel Layer Cake, and these simple Plums with Ginger. I’ve brought her back today to share more of her fun and tasty recipes today, this one involving almonds.
Over to you, Em!
What you don’t know about me is that I, by and large, prefer cooking to baking. In fact, I started a cooking blog five years ago. Until recently, I forgot I even had a blog, and that’s why I’m not a mother.
Truth be told, this audience that Jen has compiled is a group that I feel I don’t really relate to because I’m not a mother. Instead, I’m the kind of ass that refers to all moms as “soccer moms” just to be offensive. On Facebook, I comment on the pictures of my friends’ kids with “not your best”, and I sort of assume that the bulk of one’s time as a parent is tied up in repeatedly yelling things like “PUT YOUR SHOES ON!” and “I SAID NO!”.
(See related post: Sweet & Spicy Pecans)
Pin this to your appetizers and party food board on Pinterest!
I work amongst many mothers, each one more perplexed than the last by my commitment to a life of childless bliss because (allegedly) I’m “missing out on so much”. This is in stark contrast to my husband’s work where he is regularly applauded and envied for making the exact same choice.
He and I are on the same page where kids are concerned, that page being “ew, no thanks”. In fact, my distaste for youngsters gave my husband’s blue-collar comrades reason to support his proposal to me in the first place…although that doesn’t seem to keep them from complaining about “how nice it must be to have two incomes and no kids”.
Yep. It is nice.
(See related post: Almond Buttermilk Cake)
I’d rather avoid crippling debt and live each day free of someone else’s bodily fluids being on my person. Kids sort of embody a huge array of my personal pet peeves: they walk too slow, they talk constantly, they have terrible taste in movies, music, books, food (and everything else), and they take all the focus off of me (which I cannot abide).
Point here being that I’m supposed to know my audience but all I really know is how to annoy my audience, which is almost better if you ask me. I mean, I’m nearly 32 years old and I still get excited when I find new things that irritate my mother, so imagine how excited it makes me to irritate a whole mess of mothers!
Want more? Try these fun nutty snacks!
- 2 egg whites
- ¼ cup packed whole basil leaves
- ¾ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes
- 2 Cups whole, unsalted almonds
- ¼ Cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- Preheat oven to 225° F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a blender, combine egg whites, basil, salt, garlic power, and red pepper flakes. Process on low speed until mixture is pureed.
- In a small mixing bowl, toss the basil mixture with the almonds until almonds are well coated. Set aside for about 5-10 minutes (the almonds will soak up some of the excess moisture).
- Stir in the parmesan. Transfer the almonds to the baking sheet and spread evenly into a single layer, leaving any excess basil mixture in the bowl.
- Bake for 30 minutes (or longer if needed), stirring every 15 minutes, until the basil mixture is dried and the almonds are crunchy. Let cool and enjoy.
