Homemade Gifts #4: Chocolate Almond Toffee

If you like to live on the edge, here are a couple short cuts you can try when making this recipe for Almond Toffee:

(1) Instead of cutting, melting, and tempering the chocolate in a double boiler or heat proof bowl - use chocolate chips and simply sprinkle on top of the warm toffee.  Once they melt, spread evenly and top with almonds.  WARNING:  this short cut caused me a LOT of anxiety when my melted chocolate REFUSED to set.  After 2 hrs, I started scouring the internet for tips on how to fix chocolate that won't set.  I ended up putting the toffee in the refrigerator for 5 minutes and saying a prayer.  When I woke up in the morning, all was well, but if I could do it all over again I'd save myself the anxiety and nix the short cut.

(2)  Use slivered almonds or almond pieces instead of whole almonds.  This tip is a no brainer and will save you the grief (and possibly injury due to flying projectiles) of trying to chop whole almonds.