Almond Cookies

We made almond cookies in the South Arm Multicultural Community Kitchen for Chinese New Year celebration.

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Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 1/2 cups ground almond
  • slice almond and extra sugar for decorating

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Source: South Arm Community Kitchen

Yield about 24 cookies

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Roasted Almonds with Herbs

The South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club met up for another cooking session in February.

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The first recipe that Michelle introduced was Roasted Almonds with Herbs. You can try this recipe with different nuts like walnuts, hazelnuts and pecans.

Here are the benefits of almond shared by Michelle; source Wikipedia.

Almonds are a rich source of Vitamin E, containing 26 mg per 100 g. About 20% of raw almond is high quality protein, a third of which are essential amino acids. An ounce of almonds contains 12% of necessary daily protein. They are also rich in dietary fiber, B Vitamins, essential minerals and monounsaturated fat, one of the two fats which potentially may lower LDL cholesterol. Typical of nuts and seeds, almonds also contain phytosterols, associated with cholesterol lowering properties.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons hot water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups raw almonds
  • 3 thymes sprigs, leaves only
  • handful of parsley, finely minced
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil

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The parsley and thyme were from Michelle’s garden. You can try other herbs like rosemary, sage, marjoram, etc.

Source: The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters

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Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad

Minoo served the Fettuccine with Mushroom Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce with a side salad of Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad.

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The Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad has a nice balance of sweet and sour plus chewiness from the dried cranberries and crunchiness of the toasted almonds.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3/4 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 pound spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-sized pieces or 1 box of pre-washed baby spinach
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons minced onion
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil

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Source: this recipe is adapted from Jamie Oliver

Serves 8

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Almond Thins

Michelle prepared some Almond Thins cookies for the Chinese New Year celebration at the South Arm Cooking Club for Seniors.

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Michelle called it Monica’s Almond Thins. I guessed the recipe is from Monica. The Almond Thins are crispy and quite additive. They are great with a cup of tea.

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sliced almonds
  • orange rind from one orange

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Source: this recipe is adapted from Monica

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Chinese Almond Cookies

Marian completes the Chinese theme cooking session at the South Arm Cooking Club for Seniors with a Chinese Almond Cookies. There are a number of the members who have sweet tooth like me.

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The Chinese Almond Cookies are buttery and crisp and great with coffee or tea.  Love the presentation demonstrated by Minoo.

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Stella also bought some Chinese New Year cookies for the Chinese New Year celebrations. There are some sesame balls called ‘Laughing Jo’ and some deep fried wonton skins like pastry.

Marian, Stella and Minoo, thank you for sharing the Chinese New Year festivities in the South Arm Cooking Club for Seniors.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/2 teaspoon water

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P/S: The baking powder should not be in the photo. Also, the team doing this recipe had started creaming the sugar and butter before I took the photo of the ingredients.

Source: Marian

Yields 30 cookies

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How To Make Red Pepper and Almond Dip

Red Pepper and Almond Dip is the best among all the dips made in the South Arm Community Kitchen. It is very sweet and has an amazing great flavours from the roasted garlic and roasted red peppers.

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Source: unknown

Prep time: 45 minutes;  Yield: 1.5 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 cup roasted red peppers
  • 1/2 cup almonds
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon roasted garlic
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

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Almond and Honey Cookies

Minoo made these Almond and Honey Cookies in the Caring Place Community Kitchen upon Ada’s request. Most of the time, it’s a challenge to get the members of the community kitchen to volunteer to demonstrate. Most of them are very shy. So, instead of asking for volunteer to demonstrate, Minoo will ask what we would like to learn. It’s not easy being a leader of the community kitchen.

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This Almond and Honey Cookie is the puff up type, light and yet you can get the crunch from the crushed almonds.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup almonds, crushed or blended (not too fine)

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Click on the link below for the instructions.

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Almond Chocolate Chips Biscotti

Biscotti is an Italian traditional cookie — the word biscotti simply means cookies. Biscotti comes from a Medieval Latin word, “bis costus” which means twice cooked. This is the only type of cookies I know that is baked twice — once as a slab and then the slices are re-baked again.

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Biscotti is easy to make, easy to keep without going stale and delicious to eat. They’re also lower in fat and sugar than a traditional cookie.

The general hardness and crispy texture of biscotti makes the cookie ideal for dipping into coffee, tea or even wine. Here is my cup of coffee with a piece of Almond Chocolate Chips Biscotti. Yummy!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons margarine or butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup almonds (whole or slivered or chopped, I used whole almonds)
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

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