SNOWBALL COOKIES

This recipe has been a part of the family Christmas cookie collection since the '70's!  My Mom introduced them back then and since they were a winner with absolutely every family member, she continued including them up until the final batch she made for all of us for Christmas 1998.

My Dad took over the cookie baking in 1999; the year after my Mom passed.  It was so sweet and sentimental of him continue the tradition.  I took over in 2002, after my Dad passed, and have continued to keep them as part of my repertoire ever since.....and frankly, I don't see them ever going away.

INGREDIENTS:  

½ lb. softened butter

½ cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts

1 pkg. Hershey's kisses

powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Add the flour and nuts, blend well.  Chill the dough for approximately 1 hour.

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.  Remove foil from kisses.  Shape the dough around the kisses, then lightly rolling them to form a ball, completely covering the kiss.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. and bake for 12 minutes, until set but not brown.

While warm, roll the cookies in powdered sugar.  Transfer to a wire rack until completely cool. 

Makes about 30 cookies (which leaves some extra kisses for the cook!)