1/2 c Lard; room temp – do not
-substitute
1/4 c Shortening
2/3 c Sugar; granulated
1/4 c Sugar, brown, light; packed,
-sifted thru coarse serive
2 ea Eggs
1 tb Almond extract
2 1/2 c Flour, all-purpose
3/4 ts Baking soda
1 ts Salt
2 tb Water
32 ea Apricot pits; (traditional)
-or substitute 32 whole
-blanched almonds
1) In med. size bowl, cream together lard, vegetable shortening, and
sugars until very light and creamy. Beat in one of the eggs and the
almond extract.
2) Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3) Beating at low speed if using mixer, add the four mixture to the
creamed mixture, abt. 1/3 at a time. Press dough together with your
hands to form 2 balls, which will be very crumbly.
4) Place each ball on wax paper and roll into cylinder abt. 8″ long.
Chill several hrs. or better yet: overnight.
5) Preheat oven to 275 F. Beat remaining egg with the 2 tb. water.
6) With sharp, serrated knife cut each cylinder into 16 equal
slices. Place on lge. ungreased baking sheet. Brush cookies with egg
wash and press an almond into center of each.
7) Bake cookies in center of over for 25 min., then raise heat to
325 F. and bake 10 to 15 min. more, or until golden brown.
8) Transfer cookies to rack and let cool completely. Store airtight
for several weeks. You can obtain traditional apricot pits at any
health food store.
Yields
32 Cookies