3/4 cup Crisco shortening
1/2 cup Granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed Brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 3/4 cup unsifted all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup very finely chopped or ground blanched almonds or pecans (optional)
3 1/2 to 4 dozen milk chocolate kisses
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using electric mixer, cream Crisco, sugars till fluffy. Add egg, extracts; beat well. Add flour, baking powder, salt, nuts; mix until blended. Form dough into 1 inch balls. Press each ball around a kiss so kiss is completely enclosed (like a chocolate covered cherry). Bake 12 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet. (Do not overbake). Cool on wire racks. Frost/decorate as desired. 3 1/2 to 4 dozen cookies.