Chocolate pine cone cookies

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
  
       Title: Chocolate Pine Cone Cookies
  Categories: Cookies, Chocolate
       Yield: 1 servings
  
            Cookie:
     2/3 c  Crisco shortening
   1 1/2 c  Firmly-packed brown sugar
       1 tb Water
       1 ts Vanilla
       2    Eggs
   1 1/2 c  All-purpose flour
     1/3 c  Cocoa
     1/4 ts Baking soda
     1/2 ts Salt
       2 c  Semi-sweet miniature
            -chocolate chips
            Decoration:
     1/2 c  Semi-sweet chocolate chips
       1 c  Sliced almonds
  
   1. Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Place sheets of foil on
   countertop for cooling cookies.
   2. For cookies, combine brown sugar, shortening, water and
   vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric
   mixer until well blended. Beat eggs into creamed mixture.
   3. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix into
   creamed mixture at low speed just until blended. Stir in
   mini chocolate chips.
   4. Drop by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls (15 mL) of
   dough 2 inches (5 cm) apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
   Form into a slightly oval shape with a point at one end.
   5. Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375F (190C) for 7
   to 9 minutes or until cookies are set. DO NOT OVER BAKE.
   Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to foil to
   cool completely.
   6. For decoration, melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe
   bowl for 1 minute at 100% (HIGH) power. Stir. Repeat if
   necessary.
   7. Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Spread sliced almonds in
   single layer on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375F
   (190C) for 5 minutes, or until golden brown.
   8. Spread thick layer of melted chocolate on top of one
   cookie. Arrange toasted almonds in overlapping pattern
   beginning at the large end on top of chocolate to look like
   a pine cone. Return to foil to set completely. Repeat with
   remaining cookies.
   Makes: About 1 to 1-1/2 dozen pine cones (depending on size)
  
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