Green Tea Cookies

Ingredients:

3/4 C white sugar

1 C butter, softened

1 + 3/4  C flour

3 egg yolks

2 green tea bags

1 t vanilla extract

Powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Remove tea from 2 tea bags and grind to a powder using a mortar and pestle or food processor.  Add tea powder to white sugar and butter - mix well.

2. Gradually add flour, egg yolks, and vanilla to make a stiff dough.  Roll into a log and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 

3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Slice the dough into approximately 1/2" thicknesses, place on parchment-lined cookie sheets, and bake for about 15 minutes until the edges are slightly golden.  Dust cookies with powdered sugar.

Japanese Almond Cookies

Ingredients

 Red Food Coloring

1 C + 3T Vegetable shortening

1C Sugar

1 egg beaten

1 t almond extract

2 + 1/2 C flour

1/2 t salt

1/2 t. baking soda

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. With an electric mixer, beat the shortening and sugar together until creamy.  Beat in egg and almond extract.

3. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt.  Add to shortening mixture and mix well.  Scoop up a scant tablespoon of dough with a spoon and form into a walnut-sized ball. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and press slightly with your thumb to make a small indentation (don't flatten).  Dip the end of a chopstick into the red food coloring and touch the center of the cookie to make a red dot.

4. Bake in a preheated oven until slightly browned, 15-18 mins.  Cool on a rack.

Nutrition facts

Per serving: 173 calories, 1.6 grams of protein, 18.3 grams of carbohydrates, 7.8 mg of cholesteral, and 77.8 mg of sodium.