Ingredients
½ c. butter, softened
¼ c. sugar
1/8 tsp. Almond extract
1 ¼ c. flour
red food coloring
green food coloring
red sugar decorating crystals
green sugar decorating crystals
whole cloves

directions

cream butter, sugar and flavoring in a large mixing bowl.  Reserve 1 tablespoon of the mixture in a small bowl.  Add red food coloring to large portion; and green food coloring to small portion.  Stir one and a quarter cups flour into the larger bowl of red dough.  Add just enough flour to small bowl of green batter to make it pliable and easy to work dough.  Roll about 2 teaspoons of the red dough into a ball and roll in red sugar crytals.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Pinch a dab of the green dough between your fingers and pat to form leaf, dip into green sugar.  Place tow leaves on each ball.  Insert whole clove between them to form “stem”.  Chill for 30 minutes.  Bake about 30 minutes in 300 degree oven.