Fruit-Shaped Cookies

Directions

1. 1
   ["Mix margarine and sugar in medium bowl; stir in flour and almond extract until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.", "Divide dough into 3 equal parts; tint and shape each portion as desired; see below for fruit options.", "Place on ungreased cookie sheet; cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.", "Preheat oven to 300F degrees.", "Bake cookies for about 30 minutes, until they're set but not browned.", "Apples: Mix red or green food colour into part of dough; shape into small balls; insert small piece of cinnamon stick in top of each stem end and whole clove into bottom of each for blossom end; dilute red or green food colour with water and brush over apples.", "Apricots: Mix red and yellow food colours into part of dough; shape into small balls; make crease down 1 side of each with a wooden pick; insert whole clove in each for stem end; dilute red food colour with water and brush over apricots.", "Oranges: Mix red and yellow food colours into part of dough; shape into small balls; insert whole clove in each for blossom end; prick balls with blunt end of wooden pick to resemble texture of orange peel.", "Pears: Mix yellow food colour into part of dough; shape into small balls, then into cone shapes, rounding narrow end of each; insert small piece of stick cinnamon in narrow end for stem; dilute red food colour with water and brush on\"cheeks\"" of pears.""