VIENNESE CRESENTS
by Larry Skaja
This is a Christmas cookie that perhaps goes back to the old country. My mother, Helen Chmura Skaja, baked these among other Yultide favorites. She did not hesitate to praise the baking prowess of the Skaja side of the family with special kudos to her sister-in-law Bessie Skaja,
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 vanilla bean
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 cup walnuts
1 cup of butter at room temperature
3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 12 cups sifted all purpose flour
PROCESS:
Grind vanilla bean into fine consistency using mortar and pestle or electric spice grinder with one tablespoon of confectioners sugar
Mix with remaining confectioners sugar and let stand overnight if possible
Chop walnuts into fine pieces then pulverize in a mortar and pestle or electric grinder
With a wooden spoon or your hands blend walnuts, flour, granulated sugar and butter into a sooth dough
Shape dough about a teaspoon size into cresent shapes and place on ungreased cookie sheet
Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven between 15 to 18 minutes
Roll baked cookies while still warm in vanilla/confectioner suger mixture