Almond Florentine

Moving to a new country there are lots of things one has to adjust and learn to adapt to.
Things like different plugs on the ends of electrical appliances.



Smaller fridges and stoves.

Rain . . . umm . . . lots of rain . . . wet Christmas's instead of white Christmas's . . . and men wearing bowler hats and carrying umbrellas . . . waiting in queues.



Looking left instead of right before you cross the road . . . and minding the gap between the platform and the train.


Sometimes there are things that you just can't find a substitute for . . . things like A&W Rootbeer, Hot Dog relish, Sweet Mixed Pickles, Cap'n Crunch Cereal and Butterfinger chocolate bars . . . some things are just sacred and irreplaceable . . . end of.

Then there are other things that somehow the substitutes for actually end up being better than the original.



Like subbing digestive biscuits for graham crackers. Digestives are sooooo much tastier.

No, they are not square . . . they are round.




And so that means that your s'mores take on a different attitude altogether . . . well rounded, I'd say . . . but your pie crusts and cheesecake bases are . . . waaaaaay tastier! Trust me on this.




And these lovely Christmas Treats??

Outstanding.

Truly. This is a recipe one of my dad's old girlfriends gave to me about 10 years ago. Easy, quick and outrageously addictive. You can NOT eat just one . . . ever. And it wouldn't be Christmas in my house without a tin or two of them kicking around somewhere . . .



*Almond Florentine*
Makes about 24 round biscuits

It just wouldn't be Christmas without a plate of these to help us trim the tree properly. Seriously.

1 package of digestive biscuits
(alternately can use graham crackers)
8 ounces butter (Use only butter and nothing else)
170g soft light brown sugar
150g flaked almonds, toasted

Take a couple of large baking sheets with sides. Line with aluminium foil and lightly butter. Lay the digestive biscuits out in a single layer across the baking sheets.

Melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the sugar and cook for 5 minutes, without allowing it to boil and stirring constantly. Spoon the mixture over top of the digestive biscuits. Probably about 1 dessertspoonful on each. Sprinkle with the flaked almonds.

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Once it is hot place the baking trays inside and bake for about 10 minutes. Turn the heat out, prop the door open and allow them so sit into the oven for 45 minutes to an hour. Store in a tightly covered container.



Know what? This stuff is even fabulous baked on to those lovely rectangular buttery Italian Crackers . . . mmmmm . . . I discovered this new addiction this afternoon . . . God help me.