Pistachio and Almond Cookies

DIRECTIONS

• Put the measured pistachios into a food processor with a few tablespoons of the sugar. Grind. Alternately, use the smallest wholes of a meat grinder, fitted to a stand mixer, in which case no divided sugar will be needed , the latter, is a preference of mine, because of the fine texture, albeit, either are acceptable.
• Add the remaining sugar to the nuts, along with the eggs and almond meal. Add a pinch of salt, and work to a stiff dough, taking as long as it takes to gather one together, a mixer, fitted with the paddle, can be used if desired.
• Chill the batter overnight.
• Measure dough from rather level teaspoons, making two sheets of, approximately 24 cookies each. Each serving of cookie should be rolled between the palms, to create a smooth ball. Place on the cookie sheets and insert a pistachio nut, working, thoroughly enough to have it adhere, but no so intently, that the cookie batter splits, deeply along the sides.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees with the rack in the upper-third, and bottom-third levels.
• Bake for 15 minutes, at least, they may take up to 22. Rotate the pans halfway through the initial baking. Feel the cookies, they should be firm, but tender, they should give upon release, but not to too soft to fall apart, the bottoms should be browned lightly. They will crisp by 20-30% upon cooling. Remove them. Cool on racks. Eat them, when lightly warm, or cooled, to room temperature. They will keep several days, between sheets of paper, or perhaps, weeks, chilled in the refrigerator.