Southern New Jersey Overlook

I enjoying eating almonds in their various forms, whether that be raw with the brown coating or blanched, roasted with or without salt, or as almond butter or even almond milk.   I like them as ingredients in other food dishes, but mostly I like them by themselves. 

Almonds are classified as a "super food" because of their nutritional value, health benefits and flexibility in preparation and use.  Almonds are high in protein, fiber, mono-unsaturated fats (the good kind), minerals, and other nutrients, including being high in vitamin E, an antioxidant.  They have shown positive effects with controlling cholesterol.

Almonds also have an alkaline effect in the body, which can be enhanced by soaking Almonds overnight before eating.

While raw almonds are probably the best form nutrition-wise in which they can be eaten, I prefer them dry roasted, especially salted.  I also enjoy almonds as a butter, in which case I prefer raw almond butter over roasted almond butter.
 
Below are various resources on the web for roasting your own almonds or making your own almond butter.  This also includes recipes for honey roasted almonds.   I've included links to several different sites containing instructions for preparing the almonds to obtain the form you desire. 
 
Many of the roasting recipes suggest heating at 350 degrees F, while other sources caution against going over 170 degrees F.  Since you can't know for sure the conditions (including temperature) under which store-bought roasted almonds were processed, you can do it yourself with relative ease.

I currently prefer the following instruction (which suggests 250 degree F -- you can change temperature to under 170 degrees F and adjust the timing accordingly) which also mentions how roasted is better than raw...

Roasting Almonds - I currently like the method described here the best for dry roasted almonds and explaining why I enjoy eathimg them this way over raw almonds.
 
Additional Almond Preparation and Information Resources:
 
"Roasted" Almonds - basic instructions.
Honey Roasted Almonds - basic instructions.
WholeFoods: Dry Roasted Almonds -To roast almonds at home, do so gently--in a 160-170°F (about 75°C) oven for 15-20  minutes--to preserve the healthy oils. For more on the effect of high heat roasting on nuts, please see the following article.   WholeFoods: Almonds - general information about almonds, including nutritional value and preparations.
Almonds Are In! - Frequently asked questions by almond lovers; Almond Roasting Instructions; also see additional recipes on same site for almond butter and more.
 
USDA: Almonds, Shelled- storage, nutritional information, uses and tips flyer (PDF).
NutritionData: Almonds - nutrition facts and analysis for Dry Roasted Almonds without Salt.  Click here for more almond products.
 
Almond Tips - tips for preparing and eating almonds

How to Eat and NOT Eat Almonds - best way to prepare raw almonds for eating and digestion.
 
Almond Recipe: Honey Roasted Almonds - Video - this calls for temperature of 350 degrees F.
Pan-roasted Almonds - Video -- quick and easy way to roast almonds in a pan.
Enzymes, Almonds and Soaking - Video -- for better digestion (covers several different types of nuts, including how much you should eat in a day).
 
Easy recipe for almond milk: "You will need half a cup of unsalted chopped Almonds. Put these in a blender or food processor, mash to a pulp and cover the pulp with twice the level of fresh water. Blend for approximately 30 seconds and add 1 teaspoon of pure malt syrup and 1 pinch of sea salt. Pour the mixture through a strainer into a bowl and transfer into a storage jar. Place the remaining nuts from the strainer into the blender with another teaspoon of pure malt syrup, pinch of sea salt and enough water to make the desired consistency. Strain out the liquid 'nut milk' [into the storage jar]. This should be refrigerated and will last for several days. Almond milk can be served as a drink or on cereal. The leftover pulp can be used in cooking, such as in grain and vegetable dishes or in baking." (Source: Yahoo home library article)
 
Wikipedia: Almonds - all you wanted to know about almonds.




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