Russian Tea Cakes Recipe

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1                cup  butter or margarine -- softened
     1/2           cup  powdered sugar
  1           teaspoon  vanilla
  2 1/4           cups  all-purpose flour
     1/4      teaspoon  salt
     3/4           cup  finely chopped nuts
                        Powdered sugar

Heat oven to 400º. Beat butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour and salt. Stir in nuts.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet; roll in powdered sugar. Cool completely on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.

Snickerdoodles

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
     1/4           cup  sugar
  1         tablespoon  ground cinnamon
  1 1/2           cups  sugar
     1/2           cup  shortening
     1/2           cup  butter or margarine -- softened
  2                     eggs
  2 3/4           cups  all-purpose flour
  2          teaspoons  cream of tartar
  1           teaspoon  baking soda
     1/4      teaspoon  salt

Heat oven to 400º. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon; set aside. Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, the shortening, butter and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.

Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Roll in sugar-cinnamon mixture. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake about 10 minutes or until centers are almost set. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.