Baci Di Dama

For the cookies:
6 1/4 ounces blanched almonds (should make 1 1/2 cups when ground)
2 large egg whites
1 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon for grinding almonds
6 tablespoons Valrhona cocoa, sifted

For the ganache:
3 ounces semisweet chocolate
6 tablespoons heavy cream

For the cookies:
Heat oven to 325°.
Place almonds in food processor, add 1 tablespoon of sugar to absorb the oil generated by the nuts, and grind until medium fine. (You should have about 1 1/2 cups.)
Place egg whites in the clean bowl of an electric mixer.
Beat on high speed, using the whisk attachment, until egg whites are stiff.
Add the rest of the sugar slowly; continue beating until egg whites are very thick, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Beat in cocoa until combined. Fold in almonds, and mix until completely blended. The batter should be quite thick and sticky.
Line two baking sheets with Silpat baking mats.
Dampen hands, and shape about 1 heaping teaspoonful of dough into a 1-inch ball.
Pinch the ball with your fingers to form a teardrop shape and place on baking sheet.
Continue process, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart, until all the dough is used.
Bake until cookies are slightly cracked, and soft but slightly firm, 12 to 14 minutes.
Let cool on sheet for several minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

For the ganache:
Place chocolate in a mixing bowl.
Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering.
Pour over chocolate, and let stand; stir until all the chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth.
Let cool until thick yet pipeable.
The ganache should be the consistency of toothpaste.
Fill a pastry bag fitted with a #11 round pastry tip with the ganache.
Pipe about 1/2 teaspoon of chocolate onto the flat side of a cooled cookie and place another cookie on top.
Press together gently so chocolate oozes out slightly.
Return cookie to rack and let chocolate harden.
Repeat process with remaining cookies.

Makes 24 filled cookies