Blending up almonds.  There is just something awesome about watching them go from whole nuts, to a flour, and then to a paste.  And all I have to do is push a button.

But, sometimes it takes forever.

Sometimes I break the lid on my food processor.

Sometimes I borrow my mom’s food processor, and then it goes up in smoke. 

But I just give her a jar of this before I leave…

and I change her life.

Things are not always going to go perfectly. But it should always taste good.

Raw Almond Butter

• 2-3 cups raw, unroasted almonds, whole
• a few dashes of salt (optional)

Directions:

- In a food processor, put the almonds and the salt and blend on high.  This will take about 5-10 minutes. Scrap down the sides of the bowl as needed. 

- Basically just blend until the almonds become a paste.  The longer you blend, the more oils will come out and it will become more butter-like.  The length of time you blend it will depend on the size of your processor and how smooth you want the butter. 

- Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator

TIPS: Ways to enjoy almond butter:

• Straight up plain on a spoon with a drizzle of honey
• Spread on a slice of toasted Ezekial bread with honey and cinnamon
• Use in place of peanut butter for a cool twist on a pbj
• Spread on toast and top with sliced bananas or sliced strawberries (or both)
• Panini: Spread on wheat bread, layer sliced pears, top with other slice and grill
• Enjoy with sliced apples sprinkled with cinnamon
• Put in a smoothie: blend spinach, greek yogurt, flaxseed, mixed frozen berries, and 1 teaspoon of almond butter