String O Lights Almond Wafers Food

GINGER ALMOND WAFERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 2 heavy large baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine first 7 ingredients in processor and blend using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add almonds, cream and crystallized ginger and process just until moist clumps form. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch-diameter balls. Place on prepared sheets. Moisten bottom of glass; dip into powder sugar and press each dough ball to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Bake cookies until brown on bottom and edges, about 28 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack and cool. (Store airtight at room temperature.)

CARAMELIZED ALMOND WAFERS

Steps:

• Spread the almonds on a sheet pan, and toast them in a 300˚ oven for 15 minutes, or until they are light gold and fragrant.
• Cut sixty wafers from the rice paper with sharp scissors. For square cookies, fold the sheet over at about 2-inch intervals, cut along the folds to make strips, and cut the strips into squares. For round wafers, cut 2-inch circles from each strip.
• Pour the honey and the sugar into the skillet, and set over medium heat. Stir in the cinnamon as the honey melts, and continue stirring as the sugar dissolves and the mixture starts to bubble. Cook at a moderate boil for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture has caramelized to a deep golden brown and thickened noticeably.
• Stir in the almonds, heat to bubbling again, and cook for 2 or 3 minutes, until the nuts are hot and thoroughly coated with the caramelized honey. Don't let the syrup or almonds get too dark. Turn off the heat, but leave the filling in the pan.
• Lay out twelve wafers in a line on a cool counter, scoop up some of the hot honey and almonds with a wooden spoon, and drop a small mound on six of the wafers-a rounded teaspoon or more. While the honey is still soft, top each with a second wafer. With a flat board, press down lightly on all at once, flattening and spreading the nut filling. Fill all the wafer sandwiches this way. Whenever the caramel gets too thick to drop, return the pan to low heat and warm the honey until it loosens.
• When the filled wafers are completely cool and the filling is crunchy, enjoy. Store in an airtight container for a week or so.

SPICED ALMOND WAFERS

Steps:

• Line 2 mini loaf pans with plastic wrap.
• Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed for 4 minutes.
• Reduce speed to low. Add eggs and spices. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions.
• Press cookie dough into pans, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Freeze for 1 1/2 hours (or up to 1 month).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove dough from 1 pan. Let soften slightly. Cut eight 1/8-inch-thick slices with a sharp knife.
• Cover remaining dough, and freeze in pan until ready to slice and bake.
• Place slices 1 1/2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with a nonstick baking mat.
• Top each with 2 to 3 almond slices. Freeze until firm, 5 minutes.
• Bake until dark golden brown, 10 minutes. Let cool on sheet on a wire rack. Repeat.

SAUTEED STRING BEANS WITH ALMONDS (WEIGHT WATCHERS)

Steps:

• Place almonds (or pine nuts) in a large, dry skillet and place over medium heat. Cook until nuts are golden brown, shaking pan frequently, about 2 to 4 minutes. Remove nuts from pan and set aside.
• Heat oil in same skillet over medium heat.
• Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add string beans and saute 1 minute.
• Add broth to pan; cover and steam until beans are crisp-tender, about 3-5 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper; stir to coat.
• Remove from heat; stir in toasted almonds.