ROMEO AND JULIET ALMOND ROUNDS

ROMEO AND JULIET ALMOND ROUNDS image

Yield Makes approx. 48

Number Of Ingredients 7

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1 8 oz bag slivered almonds (1 1/3 cups)
1TB canola oil
1/4 tsp salt
1 Pillsbury Crusty French Loaf
canola oil cooking spray
Approx 3/4 lb manchego cheese (white cheddar may be substituted)
1 tin guava paste (in Mexican food aisle)

Steps:

Almond Butter: Toast almonds: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds in single layer on baking sheet. Bake approx. 8 minutes, stirring once, until lightly brown. Cool. Grind almonds in food processor fitted with steel blade 2 minutes, then add oil and salt. Process until smooth (approx 5 minutes). Note: almond butter will not be as creamy as commercial nut butters. (Almond butter can be made in advance. Store refrigerated. Bring to room temperature and stir before using.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Divide French Loaf dough in half crosswise. Gently stretch first piece of dough until it is approx. 13 inches long. Repeat with remaining piece of dough. Lay dough pieces on cookie sheet, seam side down. Bake 15 minutes. Let cool. Preheat broiler. Slice bread into approx. 1/2 inch rounds using serrated knife. Lay slices flat on ungreased cookie sheet. Lightly spray tops of rounds with cooking spray (canola oil, olive oil or butter-flavored spray may be used). Broil until golden brown (approx. 2 minutes), watching carefully so they don't burn. Let cool. Spread top of each round with a thin layer of almond butter. Top with thin slices (approx 1/8 inch) of cheese and guava paste. Makes approx. 48. Serve at room temperature. NOTE: Thin strips of guava paste may be rolled into rosebud shapes.