'Tis the Season for Holiday Goodies!!

'Tis the season for one of my favorite activities...

making my home smell delicious by making 

 Cinnamon Roasted Almonds and Caramels.

 

I just LOVE going to the mall during the holidays
and smelling the aroma of the Cinnamon Roasted Almonds.

It is heavenly and something that I never tire of.

11 years ago we had a family event and Mrs. Taylor brought a bowl of homemade cinnamon almonds and I loved and ranted and raved so much about them that a week later I got a sweet letter in the mail from her with the recipe. 
Isn't it wonderful when people share recipes!!

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I have been making them ever since
and Christmas wouldn't be the same if family and friends didn't receive this yummyness from our family.
I don't know how many people tell me that this is what they look forward to all Christmas more than anything else is these boxes of goodies.
Some parents have been known to take the boxes from the kids
and then eat them after the kids have gone to bed.

Usually, I fill boxes with almonds and homemade
Vanilla and GRINCH caramels (caramel recipe here)

HOWEVER, this year, I embarked on a new adventure 
of hand dipping chocolates!
WOW, lots of work, but SO worth it! 
Despite my deformed hands that can't quite work the chocolate perfect,
things turned out wonderful and what matters most is that they  
TASTE so good!
(someday, they'll be perfectly pretty looking as well!)

As long as you have a candy thermometer, almonds, cinnamon, sugar, water, salt and vanilla...
it's as easy as 1, 2, 3...

ANYONE can make up this yummy treat
and the aroma that will fill your house will make you feel like you are out Christmas Shopping at the mall!

 (only you don't have to deal with the hassle of large crowds of people)

Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

Roast 3 cups of whole almonds in a 350* oven for 15 minutes,

stirring every 5 minutes (so they don’t burn).

Pour almonds into a large metal bowl to cool.

Mix together:

1 cup sugar

½ cup water

2 teaspoons cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

Bring ingredients to a boil and stir occasionally until soft ball stage.

Remove from heat and add in 2 teaspoons of vanilla.

Pour mixture on the roasted almonds and stir until set and starts to turn white.

Put on wax paper to cool. 
Break apart.

Enjoy!!

Happy Holiday treat making! 

Go spread some holiday cheer  

to neighbors, family & friends...

this is something that is sure to impress, 

be a hit and best of all it is so EASY to make!