Maple Soy Roasted Almonds

Such a huge amount of planning goes into the weeks and months leading up to a baby's arrival. Most of the planning involves making sure baby has everything necessary to make it through those first few months. Somehow, the parents get lost in the shuffle. With baby #1, I did not do an awesome job of taking care of myself. I didn't eat enough, didn't sleep enough (although, who does with a newborn in the house) and because of that I wasn't able to take care of our new little one to the best of my ability. Yes, we were in a foreign country without family nearby to help us out, but the little things like having energy boosting snacks within arm's reach would have made a world of difference. Fortunately, I realized the importance of this seemingly small thing and was able to crawl out of the haze that had been the first month of motherhood. This time around, I tried to be as prepared as possible by making some healthy snacks that can easily be eaten one-handed (an important requirement when you have a newborn). There are big jars of Maple Soy Roasted Almonds in different rooms of the house right so I can grab a handful at any time.

This guy may only be a week old, but it hasn't taken long for me to appreciate having snacks like this at the ready.

Side note: I'm hopelessly in love with this guy. He is the sweetest. Watching both boys together may break my heart a little simply because there is almost too much love happening.

These almonds are so easy to make and store well in an airtight container. They are a little fancier than eating plain almonds but they aren't overwhelmingly coated in the maple soy glaze. Sweet, salty, and crunchy snack-time perfection. Yes please!

Maple Soy Roasted Almonds

Makes 3 cups

• 3 cups raw almonds
• 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spread the almonds in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet.
3. Roast the almonds for 8 minutes to lightly toast them. Meanwhile, stir the soy sauce and maple syrup together in a large bowl.
4. Add the almonds to the bowl and toss to coat them in the sauce.
5. Line the baking sheet with parchment or spray with cooking spray. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the almonds onto the baking sheet and spread in a single layer.
6. Roast the almonds for 15 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
7. Sprinkle the almonds with the salt and let them cool slightly for about 2-3 minutes, then transfer them to a large plate to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container.

Blood Orange & Fennel Salad with Almonds

When Brad and I moved to Tokyo in 2008, all I could do to keep from curling up in a ball of homesickness was to look for things about Japan that reminded me of my Midwestern home. Let me just say that finding similarities between Minnesota and Japan is not an easy task. Sometimes I would find ways of preparing food that reminded me of home. Occasionally I would see a sign for Minnetonka Moccasins that would make me feel like I still had a connection to my home state in the midst of the strange new surroundings in which I now found myself.

I had an inkling moving to Japan might be difficult in the beginning. It was half way across the globe, after all. What I didn't expect was having similar feelings after moving to Denver, Colorado. Reverse culture shock didn't hit right away. We were so busy moving and taking care of our then 6 month old son. But when it did hit, the shock was strong. And it is still lingering. I find myself searching for anything that comes even remotely close to our life in Tokyo. Typically this means trying to find the perfect bowl of ramen, the best sushi, and perfectly a Japanese curry recips. This is easier said than done because, in the case of food, Japan always does it best.

What does all of this have to do with a fennel and blood orange salad? Nothing at all. Except that when I made this salad all I was doing was thinking of life in Japan. That previous life consumed my thoughts for an entire day. That's the way it goes, I guess.

It is also possible that I am using this salad as a reset button. Both to reset my weekly eating habits and to start with something clean and fresh in my mind. Whatever the motivation, I was pleased to have something fresh and bright on my plate. If you haven't tried shaved fennel with citrus, I encourage you to get on that right now. This is the perfect time of year for blood oranges, grapefruit, Meyer lemons... And I think with all the snow and negative degrees happening out there, some vitamin C might be just what we all need.

So here's to salad. And citrus. And reverse culture shock. And reset buttons.

Blood Orange & Fennel Salad

Ingredients

• 1 medium fennel bulb
• 3 blood oranges
• 1/4 cup whole roasted almonds, roughly chopped
• Juice of 1 blood orange (you should have about 1/3-1/2 cup but if you are short, supplement with regular orange juice)
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• salt to taste

Instructions

1. Using a sharp knife or mandolin, save the fennel bulb. Place in a large bowl.
2. Peel the blood oranges and use a pairing knife to cut segments. Simply take the knife and cut on either side of each membrane (the part of the orange that shows you where each segment is). Arrange the segments on top of the shaved fennel.
3. Sprinkle the salad with the chopped almonds.
4. Next, make the vinaigrette by combining the orange juice, vinegar, olive oil and salt in a small bowl. Whisk until emulsified and drizzle over the salad just before serving.