yup, we use it too for the holidays...there are as many different reciepes as there are families...if you are anywhere near a Lebanese grocery store, take a look to see if they sell apricot paste...it comes in thin sheets that are wraped in celophane and folded into a package...the other favorite reciepes are with almond paste, whole dates (pitted or not), pitted prunes, ground almonds, slivered almonds and apricot paste.
1. Fancy fruits:
12 pitted dates
12 pitted prunes
12 dried apricots
1 lb almond paste
natural food coloring
ground nuts (pistachios, almonds, walnuts, chopped nuts...)
sugar or icing sugar opional
Divide the almond paste into 2 or 3 large pieces. Add a drop of food coloring to each pieces and knead a bit to mix the color into them. (ususally we use red, green and yellow but have fun with it)
Make little coloured balls out of the almond paste (about the size of a very large bean).
Cut open the dates, prunes, apricots etc and pit them if they aren't already pitted then stuff them with the almond paste balls. roll them into the chopped nuts or place a 1/2 walnut or pistachio on top. You can sprinkle them with powdered sugar or icing sugar if you like.
With the apricot paste: cut it into about a 4inch wide, 12inch long strip. Roll the almond paste into a 11 inch long rope (about 1/4 inch diameter) and place it on the edge of the apricot paste and roll it into it. The almond paste should be completely covered with the apricot paste. Cut into 1 inch pieces and place them on a cookie sheet to dry. Place a 1/2 almond or pistachio on top and sprink with either icing sugar or dried nuts. Serve!
Hope you like these: No gluten, no sugar, not problem except for maybe the prunes...
Sharon