1. Combine sugar, water, shortening, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt in a saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil and lower heat and simmer for 5 min.
3. Set aside to cool.
4. Sift the flour and add soda and baking powder along with the broken almonds. Mix well.
5. Gently add the wet ingrediants with the dry
6. Beat well.Add almond extract and mix well Pour batter into a cake tin.
7. Bake at 325 degrees F for approx 45min to 1 hr.
8. If you want to decorate with the blanched almonds, then remove the pan from Oven abt 30 min after set.
9. Decorate with the almonds and then put it back in the oven for another 15min.
10. Care should be taken not to keep it for a long while since it could make the cake very dry.
11. If taken at correct time, it comes out all moist and crunchy with nuts.
12. Regular check is advisable.
13. Once done, cool and cut into slices of your choice and sprinkle with powdered sugar if using.

Courtesy: http://chefinyou.com/