PREPARATION:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheets. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl.
2. Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in sugar until blended. Increase speed to high; beat until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until fluffy. Stir in flour mixture until blended. Stir in chopped almonds just until blended.
3. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough about 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Press several slivered almonds into dough of each cookie, if desired.
4. Bake 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cookies stand on cookie sheets 5 minutes; transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Store in airtight container.