Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe 2012 has come and gone so quickly. Good riddance!
Might as well start 2013 off with something that is nummy-nummy!

One of my favorite treats to make around this time of year is Cinnamon Glazed Almonds. This recipe is very close to the delicious cinnamon glazed almonds that you buy in the mall. You can make them much, much cheaper.

I betcha can't eat just one!

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Cinnamon Glazed Almonds

YOU WILL NEED:

1/3 cup butter
2 egg whites, at room temperature
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
4 cups whole natural almonds
4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a large cookie sheet, and set aside.
• Melt the butter. Set aside.
• Beat egg whites with salt until very frothy; Use a mixer if your lazy :P
• Gradually add sugar, beating to stiff peaks*. Gently fold in cinnamon & one tablespoon Vanilla, and then pour melted butter into mixture.
• In a bowl, mix the 4 cups of almonds with the mixture. Mix by hand until almonds are fully coated.
• Pour entire thing onto greased pan, spreading the almonds evenly on pan.
• Bake about 30 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes, until glazing mixture has set up around almonds. Do not wait until the glaze is totally dry. Make sure that as you are tossing them, and you don't allow the glaze to dry all the way before you remove them from the oven.
• Let cool, then store cooled nuts in sealed container.

*Don't panic if the glaze mixture hasn't stayed in stiff peaks. It will work just fine!
Also, the crunchies left over from the almonds, you can use as an ice cream topper. Mmmm, nummy-nummy!

May you and yours have a wonderful new year!