Queen of Sheba chocolate tort

Made this for Suzie's going away party because I knew she'd like the name. I've read this recipe over many times but never got around to trying it. Now I know why: you need to grind almonds in a food processor, separate eggs, beat egg whites, melt chocolate in a double boiler, fold egg whites into a thick batter, and you need a springform pan and brandy!  The author claims this recipe is great for beginner bakers because it's very forgiving.  But with so many steps and specialized equipment involved, I think the barrier to entry is quite high.  But that also made this was the perfect recipe to break in my new kitchen.  And the tort was yummy too. Kind of like a flourless cake but with (3 tablespoons of flour and) the added texture and flavor from ground almonds.  I replaced the 3 tablespoons of brandy with amaretto, whose flavor really showed through.