Instructions: 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

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