2 c All-purpose flour

1 c Butter; (2 sticks) softened

1/2 c Sifted powdered sugar

1 ts Vanilla

1 pk Semisweet chocolate chips

; (6-oz) 1 tb Shortening

1/2 c Walnuts; finely chopped

Recipe by: St. Louis Post-Dispatch 12/2/96 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, butter, sugar and vanilla. Blend thoroughly. Using a rounded teaspoon of dough for each cookie, shape with hands into 2-inch logs. (To make shaping easier, you can coat each piece of dough very

lightly with powdered sugar.) Place 1/2 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes. They should be barely golden brown on the bottom. Carefully remove cookies to a wire rack. Hot cookies are very fragile. Let cool thoroughly. Heat chocolate chips and shortening together in the microwave on a low power level until just melted. Stir to combine. Dip ends of each cooled cookie into chocolate. Place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Sprinkle walnuts over ends. Chill until firm, about 1 hour. Tester's note: Elegant, rich and delicious. Freeze these by the dozens for unexpected guests. Barbara Love, Sperreng Middle School. -----