Estimated time:
Approximately one hour.

Number of servings:
Approximately 48 cookies

Ingredients: (Hit your return key to start a new line)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring

Directions:
Heat oven to 350. Mix butter, shortening, confectioners' sugar, sugar, egg and flavorings. Blend in flour and salt. Divide dough in half; blend food coloring into one half. Shape 1 teaspoon dough from each half into 4-inch rope. For smooth even ropes, roll them back and forth on lightly floured board. Place ropes side by side; press together lightly and twist. Make cookies one at a time. Place on ungreased baking sheet; curve top of cookies down to form handle of cane.

Bake about 10 minutes or until very light brown.

Other suggestions and comments:
To make your cookies "sparkle," you may want to mix 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy and 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Immediately sprinkle cookies with candy mixture; remove from baking sheet.