Candied Almonds

I made these for neighbors this holiday season. They made my kitchen smell heavenly! I love them... too much.

1/2 cup Water

1 cup Sugar

1 Tbsp ground Cinnamon

2 cups Almonds, whole

Combine water, sugar, and cinnamon in saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and add almonds. Cook and stir the mixture constantly until the liquid evaporates and leaves a syrup-like coating on the almonds. (This took a little while, but keeping watching and stirring - it changes fast!) Pour almonds onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Allow to cook 5 minutes, then seperate chunks with a fork. Cool completely and enjoy!

Tomato Basil Soup

This is a famous recipe from a fun cafe all over Texas called La Madeleine. It's no secret; in fact they publish it every year in a local paper because she gets requests like crazy.

Such a great tasting and EASY tomato soup!



4 cups tomatoes, peeled, cored and chopped, or canned whole tomatoes, crushed

4 cups tomato juice OR part tomato juice and part vegetable orchicken stock (I did 3 cups juice, 1 cup stock)

14 washed fresh basil leaves

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 pound sweet, unsalted butter

Salt to taste

1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper


Directions:
Combine tomatoes, juice/and or stock in saucepan. Simmer 30 minutes. Puree, along with the basil leaves, in small batches, in blender, food processor (or better yet, one of those handy hand-held food blenders, right in the cooking pan). Return to saucepan and add cream and butter, while stirring, over low heat. Garnish with basil leaves and serve with your favorite bread.