Cookies recipes * Almond cookies and Fortune cookies

Happy First day of February ! And my countdown to Chinese New Year continues : Today we are celebrating by making Almond Cookies and Fortune Cookies ! I must confess I usually just buy them at the Asian market but since it’s an hour away – Let’s make our own. Lisa

2 3/4 C Flour (shifted)
1 C Sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 C lard (fat)
1 egg / beaten
1 tsp almond extract
almonds

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Sift flour, sugar, baking soda and salt together into a bowl. Cut in the lard until mixture resembles cornmeal. Add egg and almond extract. Mix well.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Set them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Place an almond on top of each cookie and press down to flatten slightly.
Bake in the preheated oven until the edges of the cookies are golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.

Fortune Cookies:

3 egg whites beaten
3/4 C Sugar
1/2 C Butter
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 C flour
2 T water

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets, or line with parchment paper. Have fortunes ready to go on small strips of paper.
In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites and sugar on high speed of an electric mixer until frothy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low, and stir in melted butter, vanilla, almond extract, water and flour one at a time, mixing well after each. Consistency should resemble pancake batter. Spoon the batter into 3 inch circles on the prepared baking sheets. Leave room between for spreading.
Bake for 5 to 7 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges begin to brown slightly. Quickly remove one at a time, place a message in the center, and fold in half. Fold the ends of the half together into a horse shoe shape. If they spring open, place them in a muffin tin to cool until set.