Tea Pretzels

Ingredients

 * ⅓ cup of butter
 * ¼ cup of sugar
 * 1 egg
 * 1½ pastry flour
 * 1 egg (for wash)
 * a little milk
 * almonds, blanched and sliced

Directions

 * 1) First beat butter to a cream; gradually beat in sugar, then egg, beaten without separating the white and yolk, and pastry flour.
 * 2) Cover the dough and let it remain in a cool place for one hour.
 * 3) Break off small pieces of the dough, knead to a smooth mass, then roll under the hands to the shape of a bread stick, about as thick as a round lead pencil; bring the ends towards the middle of the dough, pressing them onto it about an inch apart, forming two rings, then set on a baking tin, one ring overlapping the other.
 * 4) Brush with a beaten egg, diluted with a little milk, and press blanched-and-sliced almonds onto the dough.
 * 5) Bake in a moderate oven.