Butter-Nut Chocolate-topped Cookies

Description

 * Makes about 2½ dozen cookies

Ingredients

 * ½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
 * ½ cup sugar
 * 1 egg
 * 1 tsp vanilla extract
 * 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
 * ¼ tsp baking soda
 * ⅛ tsp salt
 * 30 Hershey's Kisses chocolates
 * ½ cup ground almonds, pecans or walnuts

Directions

 * 1) Beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla in medium bowl until well blended.
 * 2) Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt; add to butter mixture, beating well.
 * 3) If necessary, refrigerate dough until firm enough to handle.
 * 4) Remove wrappers from chocolate pieces.
 * 5) Heat oven to 350°F.
 * 6) Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in ground nuts.
 * 7) Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
 * 8) Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly in center.
 * 9) Remove from oven; immediately press a chocolate piece into center of each cookie.
 * 10) Carefully remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
 * 11) Cool completely (chocolate should be set before storing).

Orange variation

 * 1) Add ¾ teaspoon freshly grated orange peel to butter mixture.