Roasted Almonds

The almond, how I love it so. Plain, sweet, or salty, there is no way to go wrong with this nut in my opinion. Unless you're allergic... then steer clear. 

 Raw almonds are good, but roasted are great. I eat roasted almonds like popcorn and before I know it half the baking dish is gone. No shame involved. I did not add any salt or other flavorings to this batch, just a little bit of olive oil. The roasting enhances their nutty flavor and creates the most satisfying crunch that I just cannot get enough of.

 Simple, healthy, addicting.

Roasted Almonds

1 lb whole raw almonds

1 tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. On a unlined and ungreased sheet tray, toss almonds and oil with hands or a spoon until they are well coated. Spread evenly across the tray and bake for 20-25 minutes or until they turn darkish brown, tossing halfway through. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

Mother's Meatballs

Meatballs at tea time? Why not.

Make them small enough and they make great figure food. Well, perhaps in this case you would want a toothpick or fork. They are a wee bit messy. But, messy in the best possible way: delicious messy.

There's is no super secret method or ingredient in my mom's meatballs. Oatmeal is the key here. Rolled oats give a bit of a nutty flavor, but not enough to interfere with the meat, but most importantly it retains the moisture in the balls, keeping them juicy. What I also love about them is how simple they are to make and how they can be adapted for any recipe or dish.

We opted for slathering them in BBQ sauce. Because tea and toast just is't complete without figure licking and a wet towel. Right?

Mom's Meatballs

1lb ground beef (or any other ground meat)

1/4 cup of old fashioned rolled oats

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp any dried herb of your liking (or tbsp of fresh herbs)

salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp worcestershire sauce (optional)

1 tbsp olive oil

1 cup BBQ sauce (store bought or homemade) 

In a medium bowl, combine beef, oats, garlic powder, herbs, salt, pepper, and worcestershire sauce. Mix with hands or a spoon until just combined. DO NOT over work the meat or else it will become tough when cooked. Slightly wetting hands with water, start forming small balls about 1-2 inches in diameter or however big or small you desire. Set aside.

Heat a large sauce pan over medium-high heat and add oil. Once the pan is heated, start placing meatballs into pan and cook until all sides of meatballs are browned and caramelized. Add BBQ sauce and let simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and serve.