ORANGE DROP COOKIES

Fresh orange juice gives these Holiday cookies their sensational flavor. They would be a welcome sight on any ones table.

2/3 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
2 big eggs
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (do not use reconstituted orange juice)
1 tablespoon freshly grated orange peel
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease baking sheets. Cream butter with sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Stir in eggs, orange juice and peel. Add flour, salt and baking soda, mix well. Fold in nuts. Drop dough by large tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool on rack.

ICING

1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
3 tablespoons softened butter
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange peel

Blend all ingredients together until smooth. Swirl icing over top of cookies, covering completely. Store in airtight container.
Yield: 3 dozen

"Cookies are made of butter and love.~Norwegian Proverb