Here is a background on the Jordan Almonds, a treat
served at Greek and Middle East weddings.
Fresh almonds sometimes have a bittersweet taste which
represents life. The sugarcoating is added with the
hope that the newlyweds' life will be more sweet than
bitter.
At an ITALIAN WEDDING five almonds signify five wishes
for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness,
fertility, and longevity. These almonds decorate each
place setting as favors, tucked into pretty boxes or
decorative bags called "bomboniere". The pretty packages
are often personalized with the couple's names and wedding
date.
At a GREEK WEDDINGS sugar coated almonds in traditional
Greek weddings are called "koufetta". The Greek custom
is to place the sugared almonds in little bags in odd
numbers and serve them on a silver tray. Odd numbers
are indivisible, symbolizing how the newlyweds will
share everything and remain undivided. Tradition holds
that if an unmarried woman puts the almonds under her
pillow, she'll dream of her future husband.
At a MIDDLE EASTERN WEDDING candy-covered almonds are
considered aphrodisiacs and are always kept on hand.
If you have too many, you may leave the reception early.
Jordan Almonds make great wedding favors. You can pour
a handful into champagne glasses or glass bowls. You
can wrap an almond cluster in a plastic or clothe wrap
tied with ribbon. You can pack a few in boxes made of
sugar, straw, paper, metal, or plastic. You can stuff
some in decorative bags. And you can attach a little
card with a note explaining the almonds' meaning so
guests know these almonds symbolize that they are not
just a candy treat.
So five sugared almonds are symbolically eaten
They remind us that life is both bitter and sweet.
The five almonds are five wishes for the new husband
and wife
These wishes are health, wealth, happiness, children,
and a long life
Here are the recipes commonly used to make glazed nuts....
although many are written for pecans, you can use almonds,
cashews, or almost any other nut.
Glazed
Almonds
2 cups blanched almonds
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
put all ingredients in a saucepan on high heat and cook until water is
gone. Lower heat and stir rapidly until white look disappears from almonds and nuts are
coated with brown syrup. Pour onto buttered cookie sheet and let cool. Break apart. Store
in tins.
Sugar
Coated Almonds
2 cups blanched almonds
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
salt
spread almonds in roasting pan, dot
with butter, and drizzle with syrup. Roast in oven
at 250 degrees for one hour - stirring often. Spread
on waxed paper. Salt generously.
For above recipes add cinnamon or other flavoring in the sugar/water or
corn syrup to give them that unusual taste.
Orange
Almonds
3 cups blanched Almonds
1 tablespoon orange peel
1/2 cup orange juice
1-1/2 cups sugar
Combine sugar, juice and peel.
Cook to 236 degrees. Add almonds and stir
with wooden spoon till opaque. Drop on
waxed paper. Separate almonds. Store in
tins.
Spiced Nuts
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups toasted blanch almonds
4 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
cook sugar, salt, water and cinnamon
to 242 degrees. Remove from heat, add almonds,
toss to coat almonds. Pour on cookie sheet,
separate, and cool. Store in tin.
Maple
Sugared Nuts
6 cups blanched almonds
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups maple syrup
granulated sugar
powdered sugar
In saucepan boil granulated sugar,
brown sugar and maple syrup to 230 degrees.
Cool slightly. In pan coat nuts, repeating until
all nuts are covered. Dust with powdered sugar.
Dry in cool place before storing in tins.
Want to read more about almonds?
Check out our Almonds
Trivia
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