Thumbprint Cookies

Yield: 3 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 egg yolks (save whites)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups walnuts or pecans, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix shortening, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla thoroughly. Sift flour and salt together and stir into shortening mixture; mix thoroughly.

Roll into 1" balls. Dip into slightly beaten egg whites. Roll into finely chopped nuts. Place cookies 1" apart on  ungreased cookie sheet.

Press thumb in center of each.

Bake 8-10 minutes. After completely cooled, place a bit of tinted icing into each thumbprint. (See buttercream frosting recipe.)