I just love almonds.

Here are my top 5 reasons:

1. Almonds are packed with protein and fiber. Try switching out a bag of chips with a handful of almonds and see which keeps you full longer.

2. Almonds are a natural fat burner (say WHAT?). Yes. These precious little nuts promote healthy digestion and help you lose weight naturally. Apparently they can even help you lose excess fat around your belly. Craziness.

3. Almonds can help relieve stress, curve mood swings, and just make ya feel good.

4. Almonds improve memory. If you know me, I cannot remember anything to save my life. Almonds are the cure! (Let's just pretend.)

5. I have a really amazing almond recipe. (Oh, and they help lower cholesterol.)

Spiced Almonds:

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp soy sauce

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp Jamaican all-spice, Chinese 5-spice, or your favorite spice blend

1/4 tsp garlic powder

2 cups raw, unsalted almonds

All you do is...

Mix the first 5 ingredients in the bottom of a bowl. Toss almonds in the mixture.

Pour onto a cookie sheet and bake 20 - 25 minutes at 300°. Grab a spatula and mix up almonds half way through the cook time.

And you're done.

Sarah