ASPARAGUS AND SESAME CHICKEN SOUP
2 lbs Chicken
2 c Warm water
3 tbsp Sesame oil
1 tsp Sugar
6 Slices ginger root
1/2 c Button mushrooms, canned
1/2 c Medium sherry
8 Fresh asparagus spears
1/2 tsp Salt
Wash chicken, remove fat pockets, pat dry, and chop into bite-size pieces. NOTE: if tempted to use breast Meat without bones, please don’t; bones add to body and flavor of Soup. Peel and slice ginger root. Wash and cut asparagus into 2" sections. Braising: Heat wok to medium Hot. Add sesame oil. Start braising chicken a few pieces at a time when oil begins to smell. Sesame oil will burn at lower temperature than other cooking oils, so avoid Hot wok. After browning lightly, return chicken pieces to wok; add ginger slices, sherry and salt. When sherry boils, add water and Sugar. Turn up heat, bring to boil, then reduce heat to simmer, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add mushrooms and asparagus, simmer for another 15 minutes. Transfer to covered Soup tureen (or put plate on top of Soup bowl), place in steamer on low, and hold until ready to serve. You can make this Soup in large Sauce pan, if wok is needed for something else.
ALMOND COOKIES
1 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp almond extract
2-1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup blanched almond halves
1 egg beaten
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl with electric mixer, cream together the shortening and sugar, then beat in the eggs, one at a time, and mix well. Add the almond extract. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. With a wooden spoon, gradually stir the flour mixture into the shortening. The dough should be fairly firm. Divide the dough in half and roll each into a log, about 1-1/2 inch in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate for 4 hours. Cut the dough crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet. Top each cookie with an almond half.
Brush cookies lightly with beaten egg. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until light golden brown.
