Mary's Sugar Cookies Recipe

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1 1/2           cups  powdered sugar
  1                cup  butter or margarine -- softened
  1           teaspoon  vanilla
     1/2      teaspoon  almond extract
  1                     egg
  2 1/2           cups  all-purpose flour
  1           teaspoon  baking soda
  1           teaspoon  cream of tartar
                        Granulated sugar

Beat powdered sugar and butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in vanilla, almond extract and egg. Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.

Heat oven to 375º. Roll half of dough at a time 1/8 inch thick on lightly
floured cloth-covered surface. Cut into desired shapes. Place about 2
inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Meringue-Topped Almond Cookies

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  2                     egg whites
     1/4      teaspoon  cream of tartar
     1/2           cup  granulated sugar
  1       (7 ounce) package  almond paste (7 or 8 ounces)
     1/2           cup  butter or margarine -- softened
  1                cup  packed brown sugar
  1           teaspoon  vanilla
  2                     egg yolks
  1 1/2           cups  all-purpose flour
                        Granulated sugar
  3              dozen  (about) blanched whole almonds

Heat oven to 350º. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time; continue beating until stiff and glossy. Set aside.

Break almond paste into small pieces in large bowl. Beat in butter on
medium speed until smooth. Stir in brown sugar, vanilla and egg yolks.
Stir in flour.

Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press bottom of glass into dough to grease, then dip into granulated sugar; press on shaped dough to flatten slightly. Spread about 1 rounded teaspoonful meringue on each cookie, and top with almond. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until meringue is golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
ture of almonds, sugar