Valentine cookies

Yield: 4 Servings S

Ingredients:

3/4 c Margarine or butter -softened
3/4 c Honey
1/4 ts Almond extract
2 1/2 c All-purpose flour
1/2 c Finely chopped almonds

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl beat margarine honey and almond extract with an electric mixer until mixture is light and fluffy. Add flour 1 cup at a time beating well after each addition. Mix in almonds. On ungreased cookie sheets shape 1/2-cup portions of dough into heart shapes no more than 1/2-inch thick. Decorate as desired by following one of the tips below or by using a tooth-pick fork or other kitchen tool to create a design. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until edges turn brown. Cool 5 minutes and remove from pan. Decorating tips: You can create a design on top of the cookies using white or colored candy sprinkles. Or you could crimp the edges of heart making a design using the tines of fork or a knife spatula or spoon. Sprinkle baked cookies with powdered sugar. If you are an experienced baker you may want to paint a design with a simple egg-yolk paint. Separate an egg; put the egg yolk in a small bowl and mix with 1/2 teaspoon water and enough red food coloring to make the desired sired shade of red. Using a clean paint brush paint a design on cookie using the colored yolk. Or place a small doily on cookie and using a clean stiff brush work the egg paint through the cutouts and create a lacy effect. Remember that this is all done before the cookies are baked. Makes 4 large cookies. CHERI SWOBODA FOODday home economist from the Oregonian's FOODday 2/9/93. Posted by Stephen Ceideburg