Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
     1/4  cup           unsalted butter -- softened
     1/4  cup           vegetable shortening
     1/3  cup           confectioner's sugar
   1      teaspoon      vanilla
   1      cup           flour
   2      teaspoons     ginger -- grated
     1/2  teaspoon      salt
     1/4  teaspoon      baking powder
     1/2  cup           almonds -- finely chopped
   1                    egg white
                        ***FOR GARNISH***
                        almonds -- sliced

Preparation:

Cream butter, shortening, and confectioners' sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla, flour, ginger, salt and baking powder. Add ground almonds and combine well. Chill dough for at least 1 hour. Preheat oven to 325. Roll dough into balls and arrange on greased cookie sheets. Flatten each with the bottom of a glass. Brush tops with egg white, put one almond slice on each, and brush almond slice with egg white. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tops are golden. Makes about 3