Fave dei Morti (Beans of the Dead)

(for All Souls' Day - November 2)

1/4 pound almonds
1/4 pound sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 lemon peel, grated
Butter, size of a walnut
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg

Pound some of the almonds (unblanched) with some of the sugar in a mortar, and then rub through a sieve. Continue this process until all of the almonds and sugar have been used. Any of the mixture remaining in the sieve should be pounded again until it is fine enough to pass through the sieve. Work this paste with the flour, butter, cinnamon, egg, and lemon peel until the whole is quite smooth. When done, roll into long thin rolls; divide into small pieces and shape them to resemble a broad bean. Bake on a greased tin at 350 degrees F for about twenty minutes or until light brown. Though soft at first they will harden when cold.