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

     Title: CHOCOLATE-ALMOND SANDWICHES
Categories: Cookies, Chocolate, Candies
     Yield: 28 Servings

----------------------------COCOA-ALMOND COOKIES----------------------------
   3/4 c  Whole blanched almonds
          (about 4 ozs)
   3/4 c  Sugar
 1 3/4 c  All-purpose flour
     3 ts Unsweetened Dutch-process
          Cocoa powder
     1 ts Baking powder
     1 c  (8 ozs) unsalted butter,
          Slightly softened

--------------------------WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE--------------------------
     6 oz Fine-quality white chocolate
          Very finely chopped
   1/2 c  Whipping cream

 Cookies---- Grind almonds with sugar in food processor to a fine powder.
 Sift flour, cocoa and baking powder into a medium bowl. Cream butter in a
 large bowl. Add almond mixture; beat until smooth and fluffy. Using a
 wooden spoon, stir in cocoa mixture. Dough will seem dry at first, but stir
 until it comes together. Divide dough in half. Spoon each half onto a sheet
 of waxed paper. Roll in a log, about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap in
 waxed paper. Refrigerate 2 hours. Roll each log again to an even round
 shape. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.

 Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°. Cut each log in about
 1/4 inch thick slices with a thin sharp knife. Put slices on ungreased
 baking sheet, about 1-1/2 inches apart. Bake 10 to 11 minutes or until
 cookies are just set; they burn easily on the bottom. Carefully transfer to
 racks with a metal spatula; cool completely.

 Ganache------ Put white chocolate in a small bowl. Bring cream to a full
 boil in a small heavy saucepan. Pour over chocolate all at once. Stir with
 a whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate 30
 minutes, stirring occasionally with whisk, until cold and thick, but not
 set. Whip mixture at high speed 3 minutes or until lighter in color and
 thickened.

 Spread about 2 teaspoons ganache on flat sides of half the cookies.
 Sandwich each with a flat side of a second cookie, choosing cookies of the
 same size to put together. Refrigerate 15 minutes to set before serving.
 Cookies can be kept, covered, 1 week in the refrigerator. Serve at room
 temperature.

 Makes 28 cookie sandwiches.

 White chocolate ganache is the filling of these thin, extra- crisp,
 cocoa-almond cookies. The cookies are easy to shape - the dough is simply
 formed into cylinders and sliced.

 Source: Sensational Chocolate Posted by Cookie-Lady
   10/15 mm by Cuz

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