Chinese Almond Cookies
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup blanched almonds
1 cup granulated sugar
11/2 cups lard (see Tidbit)
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg, beaten
1/8 cup water
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt.
In a blender, or food processor, grind 1/2 cup blanched almonds to a fine powder. Add to the flour mixture.
Cream the sugar, lard, almond extract, egg, and water, and add to the dry mixture. Mix thoroughly.
Form into 1-inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
Press one of the remaining almonds in the center of each ball, while flattening it slightly with fingers.
Brush each cookie lightly with beaten egg.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until cookies are light brown around edges. Makes 2 dozen cookies
Tidbit:
If your daily allowance of lard will be exceeded by this recipe, feel free to substitute vegetable shortening.