---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

     Title: Chocolate Pine Cone Cookies
Categories: Cookies, Chocolate
     Yield: 1 servings

          Cookie:
   2/3 c  Crisco shortening
 1 1/2 c  Firmly-packed brown sugar
     1 tb Water
     1 ts Vanilla
     2    Eggs
 1 1/2 c  All-purpose flour
   1/3 c  Cocoa
   1/4 ts Baking soda
   1/2 ts Salt
     2 c  Semi-sweet miniature
          -chocolate chips
          Decoration:
   1/2 c  Semi-sweet chocolate chips
     1 c  Sliced almonds

 1. Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Place sheets of foil on
 countertop for cooling cookies.
 2. For cookies, combine brown sugar, shortening, water and
 vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric
 mixer until well blended. Beat eggs into creamed mixture.
 3. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix into
 creamed mixture at low speed just until blended. Stir in
 mini chocolate chips.
 4. Drop by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls (15 mL) of
 dough 2 inches (5 cm) apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
 Form into a slightly oval shape with a point at one end.
 5. Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375F (190C) for 7
 to 9 minutes or until cookies are set. DO NOT OVER BAKE.
 Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to foil to
 cool completely.
 6. For decoration, melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe
 bowl for 1 minute at 100% (HIGH) power. Stir. Repeat if
 necessary.
 7. Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Spread sliced almonds in
 single layer on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375F
 (190C) for 5 minutes, or until golden brown.
 8. Spread thick layer of melted chocolate on top of one
 cookie. Arrange toasted almonds in overlapping pattern
 beginning at the large end on top of chocolate to look like
 a pine cone. Return to foil to set completely. Repeat with
 remaining cookies.
 Makes: About 1 to 1-1/2 dozen pine cones (depending on size)

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