| 1 | Recipe by: great little sweet treats preparation time: 0:15 preheat oven at 350. |
| 2 | In a mixing bowl, combine margarine and sugar. |
| 3 | Add 1 tablespoon water and almond extract; mix well. |
| 4 | Stir in flour until well combined. |
| 5 | Cover and chill for 2 to 3 hours. |
| 6 | On a floured surface, roll dough to a ? thickness. |
| 7 | Using envelope as a pattern, cut shapes in dough with a sharp knife. |
| 8 | Reroll dough scraps. |
| 9 | Cut out 1" squares of dough to resemble stamps. |
| 10 | Transfer letters and stamps to unprepared baking sheet with a spatula. |
| 11 | Using a paintbrush, paint, addresses, postmarks, and stamps with edible decorator paint. |
| 12 | Allow each color of paint to dry thoroughly before painting with additional colors. |
| 13 | Bake cookies for 25 to 30 minutes, removing stamps if they start to brown. |
| 14 | Cool slightly and remove from baking sheet. |
| 15 | Cook completely. |
| 16 | Prepare powdered sugar icing and attach stamps to letters. |
| 17 | To make edible decorator paint, mix egg yolk with ?teaspoon water. |
| 18 | Divide mixture into several small cups. |
| 19 | Add paste food coloring as desired. |
| 20 | If needed, add additional water, 1 drop at a time, to make paint the consistency of ink. |
| 21 | Use thin coats of the paint. |
| 22 | Allow each color to dry before proceeding with next color. |
| 23 | In recipes using opaque or pastel paint, add white, paste or liquid, food coloring. |
| 24 | This improves opaqueness and removes much of the yellow color of the egg yolk. |
| 25 | Food painted with paint should be returned to the oven for a few minutes to set the paint and cook the egg yolk. |
