1 c  (2 sticks) unsalted butter,
-softened
2 1/4 c  All-purpose flour
1/2 ts Salt
2 c  Sifted confectioners sugar
3/4 c  (3 ounces) chopped walnuts
1 ts Vanilla extract

1. Position rack in center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl combine the butter with 1/2 cup of the confectioners
sugar; beat with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 1 minute. With a
spoon, stir in the vanilla, flour, salt and walnuts to form a stiff dough.

3. Using about 2 teaspoons of dough for each cookie, shape half the dough
by rolling between hands. Place about 1 1/2 inches apart on an ungreased
baking sheet and bake about 12 minutes, until just pale golden on the
bottom.

4. Meanwhile, sift 1/2 cup of the remaining confectioners sugar into a 13
by-9-inch pan. As soon as cookies are removed from the oven, use a spatula
to transfer them to the sugar, tossing them around to coat; let the cookies
cool completely in the sugar and then sift 1/4 cup more sugar over them to
coat.

5. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough, using a cool baking sheet to
bake them and the remaining 3/4 cup confectioners sugar, divided as
before, to coat.

Makes 4 to 5 dozen