To make the fortunes for these cookies, cut 3- by 1/2-inch strips of paper and write or type your own fortunes with non-toxic ink. Because you must work quickly to shape the cookies, it’s best to make them one at a time. Using more than one baking sheet is also helpful because you won’t have to waste time waiting for the baking sheet to cool. A liquid measuring cup or deep heavy bowl os a good tool for shaping the cookies.

Servings: Makes about 8 cookies.

Ingredients:

1 large egg white
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped sliced almonds
fortunes

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400°F. and butter a large round area (about 6 inches) in middle of a baking sheet.

In a small bowl whisk egg white just until foamy. Add flour, sugar, almonds and a pinch salt and beat until smooth. Put 2 teaspoons batter on buttered area of baking sheet and with back of measuring spoon spread batter evenly into a round about 3 inches in diameter.

Bake cookie in middle of oven until golden around edge but pale in center, about 5 minutes. Working quickly, with a spatula remove cookie from baking sheet and invert onto a work surface. Put a fortune in middle of cookie and fold cookie in half. Bend pointed edges of cookie toward each other and hook them onto rim of a liquid measuring cup or deep heavy bowl to cool completely.

Make more cookies with remaining batter in same manner, letting baking sheet cool between cookies. Cookies may be made 3 days ahead and kept in an airtight container.

Source: http://www.epicurious.com/recipesmenus/gourmet/recipes

Excerpted from Gourmet magazine, February 1997