Remembering and Christmas Cookies

It all began with a cookie. Years ago my father's second wife made cookies that had hazelnuts and eggwhites and were topped with a cherry. I loved them but never got the recipe. Years went by and I didn't think much about them - remembered them occasionally. This year I can't forget them and decided that I would go looking for the recipe online.

I started with Google and pulled up all hazelnut cookie recipes. I visited AllRecipes.com, Epicurious, and Betty Crocker looking for the recipe. No luck. I stumbled upon the Hazelnut Board and there was a recipe that looked like it might be the one. I copied it and went to the kitchen to immediately make them. I was so excited.

The first batch had too many hazelnuts and baked until they were crisp. The second batch I added an extra egg white and used less hazelnuts - good but not exactly what I remember. The third batch is in the oven now - extra egg white, less hazelnuts, almond extract and vanilla extract, baked for less time.

I may never get the exact recipe for these but I think I can come pretty close to what I remember and that will make me happy. I wish that I had Barbara here to share them with though.