Reason for the Season

Recipe: Honey-Roasted Almonds

It's Christmas time !!!!

The house is filled with the fragrance of freshly baked plum cakes, cookies and other Christmas goodies.

There's an excitement in the air as friends and family plan their holidays, put up the Christmas tree and decorate their houses.

People are rushing to get the perfect gift for loved ones and trying to be Santa for their little ones. 

Many like to celebrate this season by helping people in need.

The birth of a Baby 2000 years ago created not just a small stir. In fact the event frightened the ruler of the land so much that he ordered the killing of all the baby boys there.

 

Some thought this little Baby would be a military leader and save his country from oppressing powers. But then His saving grace was not about a power struggle in this world. He came to conquer the biggest fear of man. And hence we have more than enough reason to celebrate.

As you are planning your Christmas menu and thinking about thoughtful gifts for family and friends, here is a little treat that is so easy to make but yet it would bring a happy smile to every face.

HONEY ROASTED ALMONDS

Recipe from here

Almonds - 2 cups

Honey - 2 Tbsp

Water - 2 Tbsp

Olive oil- 1 tsp

Sugar - 1/4 cup

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. 

Pulse the sugar and salt for a couple of times so that the sugar granules get slightly broken down and are not chunky. But then don't make it too fine and powdery either. Place this in a heat-proof bowl and keep it aside.

Place the almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 180 degrees C for 30 minutes.

Boil the honey, water and oil in a wide heavy bottomed pan.

Add the roasted almonds and stir continuously till all the liquid has been soaked up by the almonds while on medium flame.

Take the almonds off the fire. And toss them in the sugar and salt mixture.

Let them cool completely before storing them in air-tight containers.

These honey-roasted almonds are so good that it's hard to stop eating them. Serve them as appetizer or crushed in a dessert, these truly taste divine.

This time last year, I was trying very hard to take decent clicks for the blog. And it sure was tough. I struggled with even basic settings of the camera.

And now, thanks to a lot of inputs from family, lots of reading about photography from books and other blogs and of course the much needed (and eagerly awaited) photography workshop from Hema Narayanan, I think I have improved :) Though there is still a long way to go. What do you say?

Here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !!!