KISS ME QUICK! Valentine Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups quick or old-fashioned oats, uncooked
1 2/3 cups ground macademia nuts or pecans
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
48 foil-wrapped chocolate kisses (Hershey's, of course) UNWRAP before using!


Heat oven to 350. Lightly grease cookie sheet. Beat together butter and sugar till creamy. Add egg yolks and vanilla; beat well. Add combined oats, flour and 2/3 cup nuts; mix well. In small bowl, beat egg white with fork until frothy. Shape dough into 1" balls. Dip in egg white; press one side into remaining nuts. Place nut side up 1" apart on prepared cookie sheet; press thumb deeply in center of each. Bake 8 minutes. (hope you remembered to remove your thumb!) Remove from oven. Place one chocolate kiss into each center. Continue baking 5-7 minutes. Remove to wire rack; cool completely.

Makes about 4 dozen.

Antoinette Klein