7 Ways With Almonds

Rescue almonds from the nut bowl and add them to a variety of dishes. Their slightly sweet flavor and distinct crunch add memorable flavor to desserts, salads, main dishes, and even candy. Once you try them in recipes, you'll have a hard time just popping them by the handful ever again.

While the combination may sound unusual, this refreshing salad offers a chorus of flavor notes ranging from sweet to salty to tart. The bitter taste of radicchio is softened and enhanced by pairing it with sweet dates, tart grapefruit and orange sections, roasted almonds and grated Parmesan. The dressing can be made up to a week ahead and used on other dishes, if you like.

Recipe: Radicchio Salad With Citrus, Dates, Almonds and Parmesan Cheese

Chicken thighs are coated with a mixture of sweet and savory pantry spices, browned in a skillet, and then oven roasted with sweet dates and chicken stock. The whole mixture is then served over quick cooking couscous simmered with cumin, almonds, and more stock for a quick weeknight supper.

Recipe: Moroccan Chicken With Almond Couscous

Sliced almonds adorn the top of this simple one-layer cake that's laced with sweet almond liqueur. Sprinkle it with powdered sugar and serve it as is or use it as the base for strawberry shortcake. Bake it in advance and freeze until ready to use.

Recipe: Almond Cake

Made with dried figs, almonds, coconut, and amaretto, these wild and crazy bar cookies may just knock brownies off their favored perch. At first bite, there's a hit of sweet almond flavor. Then subtle background notes of gooey fig and crunchy coconut rise up to make a sweet cookie symphony. Recipe: Fig and Almond Squares

Flavored with both chopped almonds and almond extract, this traditional custard style dessert is made in a single cake pan with sweetened condensed and evaporated milks. Bake it early in the day so it has a chance to cool and chill before serving.

Recipe: Almond Creme Caramel

Drizzled with chocolate and sprinkled with toasted chopped almonds, this easy toffee will satisfy any sweet tooth. You'll need a candy thermometer (sold at most grocery stores) to make sure the toffee cooks properly. From there, the process is foolproof. Make extra batches for friends, neighbors, or potlucks.

Recipe: Almond Toffee

After a quick pan searing these almond-coated chicken breasts are finished off in the oven, making them a easy weeknight meal. The recipe calls for boil-in-the-bag rice but instant or long cooking rice work fine, too. Serve with a side of steamed green beans, carrots, or squash.

Recipe: Almond Crusted Chicken With Saffron Rice