INGREDIENTS
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup margarine/butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg
2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 to 1 tsp. red food color
Green sugar crystals (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix powdered sugar, margarine, shortening, egg, almond extract, and chopped almonds.

Stir in flour and salt. Divide dough in half. Tint one half with red food color, 1/2 tsp. at a time, to desired darkness. Leave the other one half of the dough plain.

For each cookie, mold together 1 tsp. from plain cookie dough and 1 tsp. from red cookie dough to make a swirled effect. Flatten and place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Sprinkle with green sugar crystals (if you have them). If dough gets sticky and hard to handle, refrigerate about 15 minutes. Bake until set, about 7-9 minutes depending on oven. Let sit 1-2 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack.

Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.