I love a good salad.  Especially in the summer.

I recently discovered some delicious almonds on pinterest.  And after making them a few times, I’ve tweaked the recipe a bit.  They are dangerously good.  I’ve been known to eat them by the handful when no one is looking!

Sweet and Spicy Almonds

3 1/2 to 4 cups sliced almonds (I used two 6 oz bags)

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon vanilla

{1} Place sugar in a non-stick sauce pan and heat over medium heat.  Stir frequently to keep the sugar from burning.  Keep stirring until the sugar has caramelized into a golden syrup.  This does take time and patience.

{2} Turn heat to low and add butter, cinnamon, vanilla and spices.  Stir until all of the ingredients are mixed together.

{3} Add the almonds and stir until they are all coated.  The caramelized sugar will likely clump together. This is ok.  It will melt as you saute the almonds.  Continue to stir the almonds until they turn a nice golden brown.  But keep an eye on them so they don’t burn!

{4} Cool almonds on a piece of foil or wax paper.  Store in a ziploc bag in your freezer and use on a salad as needed.

And now for the salad….

I add some fresh strawberries.  This time of year in the northwest, we are fortunate to have fresh strawberries from Spooner Farms. Yum!

Add some crumbled blue cheese {which I didn’t have today…}.  Toss the ingredients with some of my favorite salad dressing…

And enjoy a nice summer salad!

jen

Today’s post is sponsored by Bosch American Fridge Freezers at appliances online.

linking up to:

the sweet talk shop, funky junk interiors, i heart naptime, nifty thrifty things, the southern institute, my uncommon slice of suburbia, centsational girl