Almond Giveaway
Almonds are hands down my favorite nut to snack on, so I was thrilled when the Almond Board of California contacted me to host a giveaway for my readers in honor of National Almond Day – February 16th! It’s also fittingly National Heart Health Month (the healthy fats in almonds are great for heart health) and National Snacking Month (almonds make the perfect snack!).
I don’t go a day without snacking on almonds. In fact, each year at the annual Food and Nutrition Conference, I make sure to pick up a new almond tin from the Almond Board, that makes packing and snacking on almonds so easy (and stylish!). I seriously stash one of these tins of almonds in every possible location for when I need a snack in a pinch: in my work bag, my purse, my gym bag, my office, and my car. The protein, healthy fats and fiber in almonds keep me satisfied, and you only need a small palm-ful (about ¼ cup) to tide you over between meals. Funk is a huge fan of almond butter, and spreads a layer on his morning English muffin for breakfast. Needless to say, we’re big almond fans over here.
The Almond Board sent me this amazing almond-packed giveaway, and one to send to a lucky (very lucky) reader. In it you’ll find:
A bag of whole natural almonds
A bag of blanched sliced almonds
Almond butter
Almond flour
Almond tins (in the perfect portion size!)
And an almond inspiration cookbook
…All packed into a pretty orange travel bag!
As soon as I received my package, I dove into that cookbook and flagged a handful of recipes I wanted (needed!) to make right away, including this one for Almond Cherry Energy Bars. I made them over the weekend since I already had all ingredients on hand, and had wanted to make my own granola bars. They were amazing! Dense, filling and flavorful, I know I’ll be making them again. I used raisins in place of dried cherries since that’s what I had on hand.
Ingredients:
Cooking spray
3 cups favorite granola
1 cup wheat germ
1.5 cups almond butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
¾ cup honey
1 cup dried cherries
1 cup slivered California Almonds
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9×13” rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving excess paper on edges.
2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and spread into pan. Press firmly.
3. Bake for 10 minutes.
4. Pull on parchment paper to remove from pan and cut into 24 bars while still warm – 6 on one side and 4 on the other.
Source: Almond Inspiration Cookbook
Now it’s your turn to get cooking and snacking with almonds. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite way to enjoy almonds – as a snack? Sprinkled in your oatmeal? Or churned into creamy almond butter?
I’ll randomly pick a winner on Friday, February 15th.
Want to stay in touch with the Almond Board? Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclaimer: I received this complementary almond giveaway from the Almond Board of California. I was not compensated for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
37 Comments
i will roast almonds with curry powder and have it along with tea………
I LOVE sprinkling almonds on/in just about anything, but mixing them into a quinoa salad with fresh veggies and hummus is probably my favorite.
I love almonds!! I recently discovered a recipe for Almond crusted salmon…it is to die for. A new staple around our house. http://www.livingrunningcooking.com/2012/12/almond-crusted-salmon.html
I love almonds by the handful! But I also love them in oatmeal, mixed in with a little spoonful of nutella…so yummy!
What an awesome giveaway!
I love almonds! They are always my go to snack!
If I win, I will be making these bars right away!
I love almonds in any form, but I just learned to make almond butter and am now totally addicted, as is the rest of my family.
I love making granola with almonds! It is the perfect snack!
I LOVE a handful of raw almonds as a pre-workout snack in the morning-time
I love almonds in trail mix! I also add sliced almonds to salads and oatmeal…and switch between almond and peanut butter on my toast!
I love almond butter on just about anything! I also love sliced almonds in salads, granola + fruit crisp topping. thanks for the giveaway, Janel!
I like eating them plain as a snack
I love almond butter with cocoa mixed in. Yum!
I can’t choose just one way!! I eat almond butter every day, add almonds to oatmeal, eat with dried fruit, add to kale salads. And now I make French macarons with almond flour. Endless things to do with amazing almonds!
I like Caramelized Almonds
http://www.ricardocuisine.com/recipes/3152-caramelized-almonds-
I love roasted almonds as snacks.
I love them in my salads, and I love almond milk!
So many ways to enjoy almonds, plain as a snack, chopped in homemade granola and sliced in green beans almondine. Love almonds!
I love flavored roasted almonds as a snack, but plain raw or roasted almond butter is amazing when I have a real almond craving!
My favorite way to eat almonds is as a snack with a banana and a square of dark chocolate – crunchy, creamy, and delicious!
My favorite way to eat almonds is raw/natural with dried apricots – so good!
Almond butter mixed into vanilla skyr (yogurt) is one of my favorite post-running treats. But Crushed almonds on top of hot breakfast cereal in the morning are a close second.
Dark chocolate covered almonds, with sea salt
I always love adding roasted almonds to my homemade granola – nice hit of protein. They are so yummy with a slight sweetness – they’re delicious!
Just started doing a paleo diet and discovered almond flour (and almond yogurt) = wow! Amazing food!
LOVE to have almond butter with homemade jam on a piece of toast for breakfast.
omg, LOVE the bag!! fingers crossed I win
Love almonds in biscotti.
Sliced on pastries! Or in healthy granola.
I love melting peanut butter and sliced apple in the microwave, and putting sliced almonds and cocoa on top!
nom nom
I slice almonds and have them on top of greek yogurt for breakfast.
As a snack!
I use almond butter in my breakfast smoothies. Frozen cherries, almond milk, almond butter, and almond extract!
I have a great recipe for Catfish Almondine,catfish in a sliced almond crust is delicious!
I eat a handful of raw almonds daily as a healthy snack at work. Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 @ gmail dot com
Wow! So many ways to choose from with one of my favorite foods! But I, quite simply, love to spread raw, crunchy almond butter on honeycrisp apple slices.
love eating them as a snack
thanks for the giveaway
I love almond butter in smoothies, almonds in my oatmeal, and almond milk
I like to eat almonds plain, by the handful.