| The dictionary defines an almond as the kernel of the | | | | fresh parsley. Yield: 4 servings.ALMOND-APRICOT |
| fruit of a tree. But Silk Road traders thought of | | | | GRANOLADry ingredients: 6 cups uncooked oatmeal, |
| almonds as a portable and tasty food source. Many | | | | 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 cup sliced almondsWet |
| cultures, including the Romans, reserved almonds for | | | | ingredients: 2 tablespoons canola oil, 3 tablespoons |
| celebrations. Today, many of us prepare holiday | | | | frozen apple juice (undiluted), 1/4 cup honey, 2 |
| recipes that contain almonds.Why have almonds been | | | | teaspoons almond extractPreheat oven to 300 |
| popular for centuries?The answer: Almonds have a | | | | degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. |
| unique flavor and give food an extra crunch. Toasted | | | | Combine wet ingredients in a small bowl. Add wet |
| almonds and golden raisins, for example, turn basic | | | | ingredients to dry and mix well. Line a jelly roll pan with |
| cooked rice into a tasty pilaf. Almonds give green and | | | | non-stick foil. Pour granola mixture into pan and spread |
| meat salads an extra flavor punch. Adding 1/4 | | | | evenly. Bake for about 20 minutes, stirring twice, until |
| teaspoon of almond extract to vanilla pudding mix | | | | granola is golden brown. After granola has cooled add |
| makes it taste like made-from-scratch.Put almonds on | | | | 1/4 cup dried apricots, cut into thin strips. Yield: About 7 |
| your grocery list and jazz up your meals. Curried | | | | cups.CHINESE ALMOND COOKIES (Sorry, these |
| almond Soup sounds like company fare, but it's a | | | | aren't low-cal.)1 cup butter-flavored Crisco, 1/2 cup |
| yummy Saturday night supper when served with | | | | sugar, 1/2 cup Splenda, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 |
| crusty bread. The Almond-Apricot Granola is perfect | | | | teaspoon baking soda, 2 large eggs (room |
| at breakfast time and snack time. Almond extract and | | | | temperature), 1 tablespoon almond extract, 1/2 |
| whole almonds make these Chinese Almond Cookies | | | | teaspoon salt, 3 cups pre-sifted flour, 1 teaspoon (or |
| doubly good.CURRIED ALMOND SOUP2 tablespoons | | | | more) of water, 1 package (3 1/4 ounces) whole |
| canola oil, 1 tablespoon butter, 1/2 cup whole almonds, 2 | | | | almondsIn large mixing bowl, beat Crisco, granulated |
| tespoons (or more) curry powder, 3 tablespoons + 1 | | | | sugar, Splenda, |
| teaspoon granular flour, 2 cups skim milk, 2 cups | | | | and brown sugar until flullfy. Add eggs and almond |
| low-fat chicken stock (from a carton) 1/2 teaspoon | | | | extract. Beat one minute more. With mixer at lowest |
| light saltIn a large pan, saute almonds in canola oil, | | | | speed, add remaining ingredients, EXCEPT almonds. |
| butter, and curry powder until nuts are lightly browned. | | | | Finish blending dough with a wooden spoon, adding a |
| Remove nuts with slotted spoon and cool. Put almonds | | | | few drops of water if necessary.Form dough into |
| in a food processor and process for about 10 | | | | small balls. Roll balls in granulated sugar. Put balls on |
| seconds, or until nuts are ground.Sprinkle flour over | | | | prepared baking pan, one inch apart, and flatten slightly. |
| remaining oil-butter in pan. Cook over medium heat, | | | | Place a whole almond in the center of each cookie. |
| stirring constantly, for one minute to form a roux. Using | | | | Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until edges |
| a whisk, gradually add milk and chicken stock to roux. | | | | begin to brown. Yield: 5 dozen.Copyright 2005 by |
| Stir soup until slighty thickened. Add ground almonds | | | | Harriet Hodgson. |
| and salt to soup. Serve immediately, garnished with | | | | |