NATIONAL BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE WITH ALMONDS DAY

On November 7th, National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day ushers in one of the more healthful ways to enjoy chocolate.

Bittersweet chocolate is chocolate liquor to which sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla have been added. It has less sugar and more liquor than semisweet chocolate. However, the two of them may be interchangeable when baking.

Recent studies reveal health benefits from eating small quantities of bittersweet chocolate. The addition of almonds increases health benefits as well. Pairing the two of them gives us a delicious and healthy snack. Make them a part of your lunch or enjoy them as part of an afternoon snack.

In 1742, Eliza Smith included the only chocolate recipe in her cookbook, The Compleat Housewife, printed by William Parks. The simple recipe combined grated chocolate, orange flower water, and sugar. But, no almonds.

However, plenty of recipes include almonds and chocolate. You only need to know where to look. When combining chocolate and almonds, remember that both keep well, too. So, sharing during the holidays is easy. Make a little or a lot of a recipe to spread the holiday cheer when using bittersweet chocolate with almonds.

Chocolate and almonds can improve just about any day. Try one of the recipes below or one of your favorites to celebrate. Make enough to share or invite friends to get creative with chocolate recipes in your kitchen. Are you looking for other ways to add chocolate and almonds to your day? Here are some ideas to share:

Top your oatmeal with some chopped bittersweet chocolate and almonds. It will add crunch and flavor. Make up some granola for a mid-afternoon snack using chocolate and almonds.

Roll up some delicious energy bites with these two amazing ingredients and put them in the freezer for a quick and easy craving quencher.

Enjoy them separately! Add bittersweet chocolate to your morning coffee, and top your salad with almonds. You might be missing the "with" but we won't tell.

The National Confectioners Association sponsors National Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day.

Italian Almond cookie with bittersweet chocolate and almond pieces on top.

Italian Almond Cookies with Bittersweet Chocolate (gluten-free)

ING COOKIES--12 oz Almond paste 1 cup Sugar white 3 Egg whites ⅛ cup Almonds sliced

ING--TOPPING ½ cup Bittersweet chocolate chips ⅛ cup Almonds crushed

INSTRUCTIONS Weigh or measure your sugar into a bowl and set aside. Processor/pulse almond paste till it looks like sand. Add half of the sugar and pulse a couple of times, then add the 2nd half and pulse till all the sugar has incorporated into the almond paste. Beat the three egg whites for about 3 minutes on high w/ stand or hand-held mixer---peaks are firm and not soft. Then fold in the broken-up almond paste. Make sure it is all blended. Loosely saran bowl; refrigerate 1 hour to 1-½ hours.

Preheat oven to 325° and line 2 pans with parchment paper or a silicone. Drop tsp dough onto lined sheetpan. Place a couple of almond slices atop each cookie. Bake at 325° for 14-15 min til pale brown at top edges. Remove to counter, leave cookies on sheetpan a good 5 minutes before moving to cooling rack.

TOPPING Micro-melt chocolate chips til stirrable--about 30 seconds, stir then heat another 20 to 30 seconds. Then drizzled the chocolate over cookie top.... then gently press into crushed almonds. Place cookies on lined sheetpan; refrigerate to set chocolate.

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