Pistachio Cream Cheese Cookies

1/2 c. butter, softened
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 c. confectioners sugar
1 egg
3 t. grated lemon peel
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1-2 drops green food coloring
2 1/2 c. SR flour
1/2 c. finely chopped pistachios
60 shelled pistachios (about 1/3 c.)

Preheat oven to 375. Beat butter, cream cheese, & confectioners sugar until well blended. Beat in egg, lemon peel, vanilla, and food coloring. Gradually add & beat flour into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Shape each roll into a 7 1/2" long roll. Roll in chopped pistachios. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 2 hours until firm. *Unwrap & cut crosswise into 1/4" slices. Place 1" apart on cookie sheet. Press a whole pistachio in center of each cookie. Bake 7-9 minutes until edges are slightly browned. Remove from pans to cool.
*or you could drop 1 t. cookie batter into pistachios, place on sheets, add pistachio on top and bake as directed above. Makes 5 dz. cookies