Almonds with honey-fennel glaze make easy snack

If you plan to entertain or you're just in the mood for some almond nibbles, here's an easy but distinctive recipe to try. These golden, fragrant almonds have a distinctive licorice-like fennel flavor, and they make a seductive snack with nutritional benefits. Research now tells us almonds can be part of a healthy eating plan -- they have fiber, plant sterols and vegetable protein, plus monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, which may benefit the heart. This is a gluten-free recipe.

Honey and Fennel Glazed Almonds

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon water

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher or sea salt

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

2 cups whole blanched or natural almonds

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Melt butter in a large skillet on medium heat. Stir in honey, water, salt and ginger. Stir in almonds and fennel, and remove from heat. Line a baking sheet with foil, and coat with cooking spray. Spread almonds over foil, and bake 25 to 35 minutes, stirring once, until almonds are golden through (cut one open to test). Transfer almonds on foil to a rack and cool completely. Loosen with a spatula and serve, or store airtight for up to 2 days. Makes 10 snack servings.

-- AP