Lunch: Almond Shortbread Owls

Recipe by Liza Jernow Try out this cute update to a classic shortbread cookie with almonds and a zest of lemon.

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Sunflower Seeds, Lemon

Health and fertility benefits of Almond Shortbread Owls

Sunflower seeds are an excellent food for PCOS as they are packed with vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Just one cup of sunflower seeds provides 30% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin B6. Sunflower seeds are also loaded with two other important of PCOS busting minerals: zinc and magnesium. Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to.

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. sliced almonds
2 c. all-purpose flour
Zest of one lemon
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1 c. unsalted butter
1 c. confectioners' sugar
3/4 tsp. almond extract
1/4 c. chocolate chips
1/4 c. whole almonds
2 tbsp. shelled sunflower seeds

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Use a coffee grinder or food processor to grind 3/4 cups sliced almonds into a fine meal. In a large bowl, whisk ground almonds with flour, zest, and salt; set aside.
Combine butter, sugar, and extract in a large bowl and beat, using an electric mixer, until smooth. Add flour mixture, and stir until combined. Divide dough in half. Flatten each piece into a 1/2-inch-thick slab and wrap tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
Cut circles out of dough using a 2 1/2-inch diameter round cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Use scraps of dough to make 1/4 teaspoon rounded balls of dough for the eyes. Lightly press two balls onto the top of each circle and place a whole almond on its side between them for the beak. Insert a chocolate chip in each dough ball to make the pupil. Use sunflower seeds to make the owls' toes. Overlap 3 sliced almonds on each side for wings.
Bake about 20 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through baking, until the edges of cookies are lightly golden. Let cool on baking sheet for about 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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