- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/3 cup apricot jam
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 3 cups blueberries
- 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 quart vanilla ice cream
- Line a large baking sheet with foil, then lightly oil foil.
- Cook sugar with salt in a dry 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until sugar is melted into a deep golden caramel. Immediately remove from heat and stir in almonds with a wooden spoon, then quickly pour onto baking sheet, spreading out mixture with back of spoon before it hardens.
- Cool praline on baking sheet 5 minutes, then break into large pieces. Put praline pieces in a heavy-duty sealable plastic bag and break into smaller pieces with a rolling pin.
- Bring jam, water, and lemon juice to a boil, stirring, over moderate heat. Add 1 1/2 cups blueberries and simmer until berries burst, 8 to 10 minutes. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups blueberries and simmer, stirring gently, just until heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract.
- Top scoops of ice cream with warm blueberry sauce and praline.