ALMOND SANDWICHES WITH STRAWBERRY CREAM
(Martha Stewart July 11, 2002) 1/4 cup blanched whole almonds 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour 1/2 tsp. coarse salt 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus 2 T. melted 1 large egg 2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1 1/2 T. strawberry jam 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 2 T. heavy cream Preheat oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with Silpats; set aside. Place almonds and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in the bowl of a food processor, and process until very fine; set aside. Sift flour and salt together into a small bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and remaining 6 tablespoons granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, lemon juice, and vanilla extract, and beat on medium speed until combined. Add reserved almond and flour mixtures, and beat until combined. Place dough in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip with a 1/2 inch opening. Pipe out the cookies onto prepared baking sheets; with wet fingertips, shape top of each cookie into a point. Bake, rotating baking sheets halfway through cooking, until light golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove baking sheets from oven, and transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. While cookies are cooling, make frosting: In a small saucepan set over medium heat, cook strawberry jam, stirring, until completely melted, about 2 minutes. Pour into a small bowl. Add melted butter, confectioners' sugar, and heavy cream, and stir until combined and smooth. When cookies are completely cooled, join pairs of cookies together: Spread or pipe 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon frosting on the bottom of one, and press the bottom of a second against it; place on wire rack until frosting has completely set. The unfrosted cookies will keep up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. Sugar Syl says: Good friends are like stars ... you don't always see them, but you know they're always there. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
