In a large bowl - Cream the first 4 ingredients
Add the egg, vanilla, and almond - mix in
In another large bowl, mix the flour & baking powder
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix
Chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour
When you are ready, Preheat the oven to 325 degrees
roll the dough out between two sheets of wax paper *my little trick to avoid sticky dough on the rolling pin!
And...cut the shapes out
Bake for 8-10 minutes
Mix the icing by mixing the powdered sugar, almond extract, water, and food coloring together. *Add water gradually until the icing is the consistency you like
When the cookies have cooled - decorate! :)