Vanilla Shortbread Dipped in Chocolate and Toasted Almonds

Toast almonds in a 350 oven for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned and fragrant.

Crumble almonds with fingers, in a food processor or mini chopper. You don't want them totally ground -- they should still have some texture.

Stir together flour and salt 4 Cream butter and sugar together either by hand or in an electric mixer.

Add vanilla and mix.

Add flour and salt to butter mixture and combine well.

Roll 2 tsp at a time into logs and bake in a 325 oven for 9-11 minutes -- they should be just set and barely brown on the bottom.

Cool on pan for 2 minutes and then cool to room temp on rack.

Melt chocolate chips in microwave or double boiler.

Dip each end of each cookie first in chocolate, then in nuts.

Let cookies set up on wax paper lined baking sheets and then store in an airtight container.

These stay good for at least a month at room temperature -- but I doubt they'll last that long!