Petite Fortune (Cashew Macaroons)

There is this belief that the best way to a man’s or anyones heart is through the stomach. Before World War II, when my father was courting my mother, the ‘aphrodisiac’ that my mother prepared for my father was Petite Fortune. I would only taste it when a grandaunt (Rosario Arnedo Gonzalez) would bring some to the Sunday lunch that my grandmother (Rosario Valdes Gonzalez) hosted. As a child, I would stuff these bite sized jewels into my pockets and slowly gobble them up. They tasted absolutely heavenly! At that time I didn’t know how to cook nor bake or even have the guts to ask ‘how did you make them?’ When Lola Charing Arnedo Gonzalez (to distinguish her from my Lola Charing,since both were Gonzalez) passed away, I found that out the bake shop Hizon’s made them. When I would have the craving for them, I would go to Hizon’s Bake Shop and have my fill. I hardly let any bake shop or restaurant, get away with them being the only ones to fulfill my heart’s cravings. In due time, through research and experimentation, I finally came up with my own version, since I didn’t ask for the recipe from either of them. My husband, Stan, would say “these are so addicting; you can never have just one or two; you want more and more!” See! the old adage is true. Ingredients: 350 grams cashew nuts – slightly toasted in oven; cooled and finely ground; use a food processor or nut grinder 135 grams (2/3 cup) caster sugar 50 grans (1/3 cup) confectioner/icing sugar – sift well 1 whole egg 1 egg white 1/8 teaspoon salt 55 grams (1/4 cup) butter – melted 6 tablespoons thick cream Special Equipment: 50 pieces 1-inch diameter patty pan liner (tiny cup cake paper) 2 patty pans with 12 holes each (cup cake tray for tiny cup cakes with 1 1/5-inch holes) Procedure: Preheat oven to 300ºF (150ºC). In a mixer bowl, place all the ingredients. Using the paddle attachment of mixer, mix the ingredients for about 5 minutes; till well blended. Scoop 1 1/2 teaspoons of the mixture into each patty pan liner. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, cool in pan for 5 minutes and remove from pan and cool on baking rack. Store in air tight jar or package them in containers. Note: These scrumptious bites make good gifts; specially for the Christmas season since they keep well even if they are not...