Peppered Almonds Food

SPICY SUGARED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the cinnamon, cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon of the sugar; set aside.
• In a 4-quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water and the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar. Stir over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils.
• Add the almonds and stir constantly over medium-high heat until the water evaporates and the sugar starts to dry and turn gray. (The sugar mixture will start to foam and then start to dry and look like sand. This takes 5 to 6 minutes.) Continue stirring constantly until the sugar starts to melt and caramelize, coating about half of the almonds in a reddish-brown sugar mixture and the rest in a glossy sugar mixture, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture over the almonds, stirring constantly, and immediately transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spreading the almonds to separate. Cool completely, then break apart. Store the almonds in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

PEPPERS WITH FETA AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Peeling peppers is a time-consuming and fiddly job, but it isn't difficult - and this is a distinction that's important to remember. Like most tasks of this order, culinary or otherwise, the space it takes up in your head is greater than the actual demands of the activity, but if the idea of charring and then peeling 8 peppers really appalls, then don't do it. The world is not going to fall apart if you buy a jar of ready-peeled and oil-softened peppers, nor do you lose the right to occupy your own kitchen if you ignore my suggestion altogether. Make a tomato salad; buy some tabbouleh from the deli.
• But meanwhile at stately Wayne mansion, preheat the broiler as hot as you can get it, and then sit the peppers on a rack below. When the skin turns black and blistery, turn them; you want to char them on every side. You can do this also, if you've got a gas stove, just by holding them with a long fork over the burner, but it can get tiresome to say the least.
• When the peppers are black and charred, remove them (trying not to burn yourself) to a large bowl and cover immediately with plastic wrap. Leave for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Then uncover and, 1 by 1, peel and remove the seeds. Don't get worried if the odd bit of skin (or indeed seed) remains. Cut or tear into wider chunks/strips (I don't like this too dinky) and arrange on a large plate. Crumble over the feta, then squeeze over lemon juice and drizzle with oil. Scatter over the almonds and sprinkle on the parsley - and that, frankly, is it.

BLACK PEPPER ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line Large baking sheet with foil. Lightly butter foil.
• Mix pepper and salt in small bowl.
• Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add sugar and 4 tsp water; stir until sugar dissolves. Add almonds; toss to coat. Cook over medium heat until syrup thickens and almonds are well coated, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer almonds to baking sheet. Using spatula and working quickly, separae almonds. Sprinkle remaining pepper mixture over.
• Bake until deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer sheet to rack; cool.
• Note: Can be made 4 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

PEPPERED PLUMS WITH ALMOND ICE

Steps:

• To make the almond ice, put the milk in a pan with the ground almonds and sugar and bring to the boil. Simmer for 2-3 mins, then pour into a bowl and cool. Strain through a fine sieve, squeezing every last drop of milk and flavour from the almonds with the back of a spoon. Whisk together the almond milk with the condensed milk, adding a few drops of almond extract to taste, if you like. Churn in an ice cream machine for 15-20 mins, then freeze. Can be made up to 2 weeks ahead.
• Put a serving bowl for the almond ice in the freezer. Arrange the plums on a deep baking tray, cut side up. Mix together the crushed peppercorns and demerara sugar and sprinkle over the plums. Can be done up to 2 hrs ahead.
• Drizzle the maple syrup on top. Put under a preheated grill for 6-10 mins until the plums are tender.
• Now finish it in style. While the plums are grilling, scoop out spoonfuls of the almond ice into the chilled bowl. return to the freezer until the plums are ready. Arrange the plums on a platter and pour over the syrup from the tray. Serve warm with almond ice and flaked almonds.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND ALMOND DIP

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir almonds until toasted and fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Combine toasted almonds and mayonnaise in a food processor; process until finely chopped. Add roasted red peppers, Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper; process until desired consistency is reached, scraping down the sides as needed.

PEPPERED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Stir all ingredients in small baking pan to coat almonds.
• Arrange in single layer.
• Bake until coating is crisp and almonds are toasted, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes.
• Cool.

PEPPERED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Stir all ingredients in small baking pan to coat almonds. Arrange in single layer. Bake until coating is crisp and almonds are toasted, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Cool.

BLACK PEPPER ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line large baking sheet with foil. Lightly butter foil. Mix pepper and salt in small bowl. Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add sugar and 4 teaspoons water; stir until sugar dissolves. Add almonds; toss to coat. Cook over medium heat until syrup thickens and almonds are well coated, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle half of pepper mixture over.
• Transfer almonds to baking sheet. Using spatula and working quickly, separate almonds. Sprinkle remaining pepper mixture over. Bake until deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer sheet to rack; cool. (Can be made 4 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)