Michelle Obama Shortbread Cookies

Hi-paying Inaugural guests at Washington's two Ritz Carlton Hotels will find a tasty in-room treat, inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama. Today's NYTimes reports that the best culinary minds in America have been working to adapt Michelle Obama's second-place, Family Circle recipe for Shortbread Cookies to first-place status.

Apparently, the "Fannie Farmer Baking Book" by Marion Cunningham as a very similar recipe for amaretto butter cookies.

Michelle Obama’s Shortbread Cookies, adapted

1 cup or 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg, separated
1-1/2 tablespoons Amaretto
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2 cups flour
¾ cup slivered almonds

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Beat sugar and butter until mixture is smooth.
3. Slowly add egg yolk, Amaretto, salt, orange and lemon rind, mixing well.
4. Slowly mix in flour until mixture is well blended.
5. Pat the mixture into an even layer in an ungreased 10 by 15 inch jelly roll pan.
6. Whisk the egg white until foaming and brush on top of dough. Sprinkle with almonds.
7. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes until lightly browned.
Cool slightly and cut into two inch squares while still warm.
Yield: 40 squares