Lemon Delights

Tis’ the season to be giving…lalalala, tis’ the season to be sharing…lalalala! I am checking my list and checking it twice…gotta find out what I can afford or not…
And there are a lot of gifts I’d love to give to my friends and family that I certainly don’t have the means for. I am still sweating last year’s “feeling of giving”! So, for holiday 2007, I am baking, not shopping. I found these cute containers for $.99 at a nearby grocery store~with a lining of colorful packaging tissue and the whiff of freshly-baked goodies, I hope my recipients will know how much my little gifts come from the heart.

I am submitting this recipe to the Eat Christmas Cookies blogging event hosted by FoodBlogga as a helpful tip for those,who like me, are not short on love, but are not too long on budget!

Makes about 6 Dozens

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg yolk, reserving egg white
3 tbsps lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups unsifted flour
2 cups finely chopped nuts
lemon cream cheese filling

Combine butter, egg yolk, sugar, lemon juice, salt, and vanilla extract. With mixer, beat well until well-blended.
Beat in flour.
Wrap dough in plastic wrap.
Chill at least 1 hour.
Shape into 1-inch balls.
With mixer, beat egg white slightly.
Dip balls in egg white. Roll in nuts.
Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Press thumb deep into center. Fill with lemon cheese filling.
Bake in preheated 375 F oven until filinf is set, for around 10 minutes.
Cool slightly and remove from baking sheets.

Lemon Cheese Filling:

3 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 drop yellow food coloring

Beat together until well-blended and smooth.

TIPS:
1) I used cashew nuts for my chopped nuts.