Ingredients:
2 cups sliced almonds
1 1/4 cup (firmly packed) light brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 (3-oz.) bars bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, broken into squares or coarsely chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350� F.

Place almonds on a cookie sheet and bake them, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden. Cool completely.

In a food processor with the metal blade, pulse almonds until they are very finely chopped but not powdery. You could also chop them by hand. Sprinkle half the nuts over a 7- by 11-inch area of a greased cookie sheet. Place it near the stove. Also have the vanilla and baking soda near the stove.

In a heavy,

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