Recipe: Mixed Nut Turtles (cookies)

MIXED NUT TURTLES

3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
9 3/4 oz mixed nuts, almonds, cashews, and macadamia nuts
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 tsp shortening

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Beat butter at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add yolk and vanilla, beating well. Add flour, beating just until blended.

Drop dough by level tablespoons 2-inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten each ball of dough to a 2-inch circle, using fingers. Cut large macadamia nuts in half. Press nuts firmly into outside top edges of cookies.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until edges of cookies are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheets one minute. Carefully remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

Place chocolate and shortening in top of double boiler over hot water; stir until melted. Spoon 1 heaping teaspoon melted chocolate onto center of each cookie. Spread and smooth chocolate between nuts. Let sit until chocolate hardens.

Makes 26
Source: Christmas with Southern Living, 1998