A couple of recipes...

Amanda asked me for one of these recipes, so I thought I would share them both.

Candied Almonds

2 1/2 cup whole almonds
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
splash of vanilla

Toast almonds on a baking sheet at 350* for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
Combine water, sugars, salt and spices and cook in a heavy saucepan over med-high heat WITHOUT stirring for about 10 minutes until soft ball stage. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and almonds. Remove from saucepan into a large mixing bowl with about 2 cups of white sugar already in the bottom of the bowl. Stir gently to coat. Add sugar as needed to coat almonds. Turn out on foil, parchment or cookie pan to separate and let cool. Makes approximately 6 cups when finished.


Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

1/4 pound butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/8 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 cup quick cook oats
1 6oz package of dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 375* Cream together the butter and both sugars until fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Combine all dry ingredients including the oatmeal and blend together well. Add to the first mixture a little at a time until everything is blended together well. Add cranberries and stir together well. Dough is pretty stiff. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen.
(if you are a cookie dough eater, you gotta try this one! LOL)