ORANGE-CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD COOKIES WITH PISTACHIO

Steps:

• Set racks in the upper and lower thirds of an oven, and preheat to 325 degrees. In the bowl of a standing mixer, fitted with a paddle attachement, beat the butter and sugars on medium speed for about ten minutes, or until the mixture is light in color, and very soft and fluffy. Stir in the orange oil and zest. In a separate bowl, measure out and then sift the flour. Fold the flour into the batter by hand, taking caution not to overmix. Place a handful of the dough at a time on a lightly floured work surface. With a lightly floured hand, pat each piece down to 3/8-inch thick. Connect each piece to the next, making a rough rectangular shape. If the dough sticks, loosen it with a small paddle knife or spatula. Try to use the flour sparingly. Cut the dough, using a round metal cutter, about 2 inches in diameter. Transfer the cut pieces onto the prepared pans, spacing about 1 1/2 inches between each. Press remaining scraps together and continue cutting until there are no scraps left. Bake the shortbreads for 15-20 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets from bottom to top shelves half-way through the cooking process. The cookies will be pale golden in color when they are done. Allow to cool for two minutes on the cookie sheets, then transfer to a cooling rack. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler. Meanwhile, spread chopped pistachios out upon a large plate. Clear a space next to the plate of pistachios for the bowl of melted chocolate, and on the other side, for parchment paper to set the finished cookies on. Once the cookies are completely cool, dip the bottoms (about one third of the way up) in the melted chocolate. Immediately dip melted chocolate portion of the cookie in the pistachios. Set the finished cookies on a piece of parchment, and allow the chocolate to harden. Store in a tightly-covered container.