ALMOND VANILLA CRESCENTS (SWISS)

[trudy]

This recipe was given to me many years ago by a Swiss Chef and although a bit fiddly, keeps well in an airtight tin and is loved by everyone. 

ALMOND VANILLA CRESCENTS

3oz ( 88gms)   ground almonds (grind for approx 80 secs at speed 9)
7oz (220gms)  softened unsalted butter (please don't use margarine it just isn't the same)
3oz  (88gms)   sugar
10oz (280gms)  self raising flour
1/2lb (500gms)  icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla sugar

1.    Preheat the oven at 350F (180C)
2.    Make a pastry from the flour, butter, sugar and almonds (approx 10secs - speed 6)
3.    Shape into a roll and cut off small pieces.     Roll these pieces in the hollow of both hands and form a crescent shape.
5.    Bake  for approximately 12-15 minutes  till light brown (they will be very soft when they come out of the oven so leave on 
      tray to firm up a little before placing onto a cake cooler.
6.    While still warm, gently drench in icing sugar which has been mixed with vanilla sugar  - they are very fragile so handle
       with care.   


Enjoy!!!!

[Thermomixer]

Thanks. I have made these before after a German student made them for us as a Chrissie present.  They are yum, but short and hence friable.

I last made them for an Austrian lady who is in MrsT's nursing home.  She didn't believe that I knew what they were.  I didn't realise that she had some form of dementia & a compulsive eating disorder and she ate just about all of them on the day I gave them to her!!!  They had to put locks on the kitchen cupboards and fridge & her husband took her into the home every day so that she would have supervision and not overeat !! 

[judydawn]

Your intentions were good Thermomixer   DH was telling me the other day he was chatting with a lady who was desperately trying to get out of the nursing home to go and buy some lollies but he thinks she just wanted to escape.  He was going out the door himself one day to get into the access cab to come and visit me and another visitor shut the door on him as he thought DH was trying to escape.  Let's hope none of us have to end up in those places.

Love the sound of your crescents Trudy - perfect for Christmas gift giving.

[cookie1]

The crescents look lovely.

My MIL keeps asking us for the 'numbers' so she can go out from her nursing home. She says to write them down. We've said they change them every week so we're not sure. I would hate for her to go walk about, anything could happen to her as she is tooooooooooooooo friendly.

[Thermomixer]

One escaped from MrsT's facility recently.  They told a visitor that they were just visiting and they let him out !!!  Caught about 30 metres out the door - luckily they can't run fast 

[cookie1]

Poor old thing. There's big signs at MIL's home saying please don't let anyone out as they may be a resident.  My Mum was in care for a few months but she was allowed out in her wheelchair as she had Parkinson's but was mentally fine.  The only problem being she couldn't reach the key pad from her wheelchair!!

[judydawn]

Wouldn't you think they could put something on them like what is on expensive clothes etc which would scream when they went through the door.  DH is only in for respite and is free to come and go as he pleases (as long as he tells them where he is going of course) so you can imagine he was pretty ticked off when he was trying to get through the door.  If it wasn't such a serious problem it would be laughable. Some of their excuses to get out are ingenious. Lost their mind? - it makes you wonder.

[Thermomixer]

Think they say that it is not ethically correct to tag the inmates.  Can't put bibs on them even though they dribble everywhere !

I would love one of those plastic bibs with the catcher at the bottom when I get old(..er).

[gertbysea]

Think they say that it is not ethically correct to tag the inmates.  Can't put bibs on them even though they dribble everywhere !

I would love one of those plastic bibs with the catcher at the bottom when I get old(..er).

Waste not want not I say.

Gretchen

[cookie1]

In DD's hospital they used to put ankle tags on the oldies who would wander when they were in the rehab ward to recover from something.  It was a great idea as when the beeper went off anyone near by would just turn the person round and they would wander back into the rehab area. Then some 'kind' person complained that it was an invasion of their rights or something and now the doors are kept key coded and the poor old dears can't go for any little walks, not even those who can do it safely.

[Thermomixer]

For dogs, some people have used collars that zap them when they stray outside their premises.  Maybe we could use ......  Don't think so?  Just a thought.