1 cup sugar 1 cup margarine or butter softened 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 egg 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix ingredients together to make a cookie dough. Divide dough into halves. Add 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring to one half of the dough. For each candy cane, shape one teaspoon of dough from each half (colored and not colored), into four inch ropes by rolling the dough back and forth on a floured surface. Place one red and one white rope side by side: press together lightly and twist. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Curve the top of the cookie down to form the handle of the cane. Bake until set and very light brown, 9-12 minutes. Mix: 2 tablespons finely crushed peppermint candies 2 tablespoons sugar (Mix this together and sprinkle immediately over hot, baked cookies).