Marian's English Toffee

My kids and Bryan love this recipe that I originally got from Bryan's mother. Warning: it is addictive.


1/2 lb. (1-1/2 C) almonds
2 large (8 oz. each) Hershey milk chocolate bars

Chop the almonds in a blender. Grate the chocolate (I use a Cuisinart). Prepare a jelly roll pan by lightly greasing then spreading with half of the almonds followed by a layer of half of the chocolate.
Reserve the other half of each for spreading on the top.

2-1/2 C sugar
2 C (1 lb.) butter
1 cup water
4 Tbsp light corn syrup
1/3 lb. (1 C) slivered almonds

In heavy pan melt butter. Mix in all the other ingredients. Cook over high heat until 290* or hard crack, stirring constantly. Immediately pour into pan and spread. Sprinkle chocolate in a layer and let melt so you can spread. Follow with the rest of the almonds. Let cool. Break into pieces.

Key Lime Squares

I took some limes up to Hebgen that needed to be used up and tried out this recipe.  It was very rich and good and calorie laden -definitely a once-in-a-while treat.  The key limes are usually sweeter so I wished that is what I had used. The squares were a little tart and the key limes would have helped that.  I enjoyed them better the next day when the flavors had blended a little.  I really liked the almond flavoring of the crust.     

   

Key Lime Squares

Crust

¼ cup slivered blanched almonds

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

2 cups flour

1 Tbsp. powdered sugar

¼ tsp. almond extract

Key Lime Filling

5 eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

¾ cup bottled Key lime juice or freshly squeezed lime juice

½ tsp. finely grated orange rind

¼ cup powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350*. Grease a 12x8 inch baking dish.
2. To prepare crust, chop almonds in a food processor until they resemble fine meal. Combine almonds, butter, flour, powdered sugar and almond extract in a large mixing bowl. Blend well. Scrape mixture into baking dish and pat to a uniform thickness.
3. Bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 325*.
4. To prepare filling, beat eggs. Add granulated sugar, salt, lime juice and orange rind. Mix well. Pour filling over crust and return to oven.
5. Bake 20-30 minutes, until filling is set.  Remove from oven and let cool. Sift powdered sugar over top and cut into 12 squares

Serves 12 Per Serving: 400 calories, 19g fat, 120 mg cholesterol, 5g protein, 55g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 55g sodium