Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2 1/2  cups          all-purpose flour
   2      teaspoons     baking powder
     1/2  cup           margarine or butter
   1      cup           granulated sugar
   1                    egg
   1      teaspoon      almond essence
                        blanched almonds for decoration
                        beat egg for glazing

Preparation:

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Cream the margarine ( or butter) and sugar together until light, white and fluffy. Beat in the egg and almond essence. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients to make a stiff dough. Form the mixture into balls about 1 - 1. 5 inch diameter and place these on a greased baking tray. Place half an almond (split lengthways) on each ball and press to flatten slightly. Brush with beaten egg. Bake in a moderate oven (350 deg F / 180 deg C) for 20 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack. This quantity makes about 45 biscuits. busted by sooz