Recipes

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut 1/2 C. butter into 1 C. flour until particles are size of peas. Sprinkle 2 T. water over flour mixture; mix with fork. Gather into ball then divide into halves. Pat each half into a 12 x 3 rectangle on an ungreased cookie sheet (I prefer baking stone).

Rectangles should be about 3 inches apart.

Heat 1/2 C. butter and 1 C. water to rolling boil; remove from heat. Quickly stir in almond extract and 1 C. flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute; remove from heat. Add eggs, beat until smooth and glossy. Spread the topping evenily on the two long rectangles. Bake until topping is crisp and brown, about 1 hour; cool. (Topping will puff high during baking process, then fall forming the creamy top.) Spread with Powdered Sugar Glaze; sprinkle with nuts. This recipe makes two rectangular cakes which would make 5 or 6 serivngs each, or it can be cut into bitesized pieces to serve more.

Powdered Sugar Glaze

Mix 1 1/2 C. powdered sugar, 2 T. softened butter, and 1 1/2 t. vanilla or almond extract. Gradually stir in 1 to 2 T. warm water until glaze is smooth and of desired consistency.