Pine Nut Cookies

I just downloaded the 4th season of Dexter.

And now I want to marry Michael C. Hall.

The show is seriously addictive. I remember when I first discovered the first two seasons (free on Netflix instant-hollah!!) my bottom was practically glued to the couch. I swear I did little besides eat, sleep, and Dexter. Thank God I discovered it during break. It is not break now, though. Yet I have started a brand new season.

If this were a tweet, I would hashtag #Iamnevergraduating.

I like to think Dexter would enjoy these cookies. They're not overly sweet and feature only the greatest, most under-used nuts out there. Yes, Dexter would appreciate these.

Pine Nut Cookies

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp ground fennel

1/4 tsp salt

1 large egg

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup pine nuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, ground fennel, salt, and vanilla until well-mixed. Add the egg, mix until combined. Add the flour and mix together with a spatula. The dough will be loose. Pour out onto plastic wrap and form into an 8-inch log. Wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Remove from the refrigerator and cut the log into 1/4 inch on a diagonal.

Place on a baking sheet and press the pine nuts decoratively on the top. Bake for roughly 15 minutes, until the edges are golden.

If you want to get really crazy, when eating smear the bottom with nutella. I did this randomly before going out for dinner. Yes, it spoiled my appetite. Yes, it was worth it.

Source: Giada DeLaurentiis "Everyday Italian"