Easy microwave almond toffee

This recipe comes from my favorite Irish band, Colcannon, out of Colorado.

Recipe: Almond Toffee
Here's one more quick recipe, back by popular demand. Note: a few folks who tried this last year found that they had to shorten the timing a bit from what's listed here. (I think most modern microwaves may have a lot more "horsepower" than the old one we use.) It's all about getting the sugar to caramelize to the right extent so you get that crunchy but not burned toffee-ness.

I make many, many batches of this every year at Christmas with the intention of giving it as gifts, but a good portion of it never leaves the house...

You do it all in the microwave, and it’s dead easy. Here’s how it goes:

12 tbsp butter (that’s a stick and a half; use regular salted butter, not unsalted)
1 cup (packed) light brown sugar
1 cup coarsely chopped raw almonds
a third to a half cup of chocolate chips (I like the dark chocolate)

Line a pan of approximately 8x8 inches with foil (you need this ready ahead of time)
Put the sugar and butter in a biggish microwaveable bowl.
Microwave on high for 3 minutes, then whisk it until it’s blended.
Back in the microwave it goes, this time for 4 minutes.
Now stir in the almonds and pop it back in the micro.
Cook it about 2-4 minutes more. This is where the timing gets a little tricky. In my oven, which is not super powerful, it takes about three more minutes- you may have to experiment.
Using a spatula, pour it into the foil lined pan.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips over it. When they’ve melted, spread the chocolate evenly with a spatula. You might want to save a few chopped almonds to sprinkle on the top.
Now the hard part: let it cool

That’s it. The only tricky bit is getting the timing so that the texture comes out right. But even if you’re a little off on that it will still taste great.
Enjoy!

Roasted Root Vegetables

I find this recipe works a bit better if I don't add the garlic and the fresh herbs until 20 minutes into the cooking.  Otherwise, they burn.  Just be sure to mix them with the rest of the vegetables so the oil gets mixed in.

Roasted Vegetables

Rated: Submitted By: Saundra Photo By: Beth Wand Sidell Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 40 Minutes Ready In: 55 Minutes Servings: 12

"Butternut squash, sweet potato, red peppers, and Yukon Gold potatoes are roasted with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and herbs in this easy side dish."

Ingredients:

1 small butternut squash, cubed 2 red bell peppers, seeded and diced 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed 3 Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed 1 red onion, quartered

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1.	Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
2.	In a large bowl, combine the squash, red bell peppers, sweet potato, and Yukon Gold potatoes. Separate the red onion quarters into pieces, and add them to the mixture.
3.	In a small bowl, stir together thyme, rosemary, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Toss with vegetables until they are coated. Spread evenly on a large roasting pan.
4.	Roast for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring every 10 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked through and browned.

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Printed from Allrecipes.com 10/28/2014