Tuscan Rosemary and Pine Nut Bars

Ingredients

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place a rack at the middle level.

2. 2

   Spread the pine nuts on a cookie sheet and place in the oven. Toast, stirring once or twice to prevent burning, until they are a shade darker and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Watch carefully; pine nuts burn easily. Remove from the cookie sheet and set aside.

3. 3

   Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the confectioner's sugar, rosemary and pine nuts. Then stir in the flour to make a stiff dough.

4. 4

   Spread and pat the dough evenly into an ungreased 8-inch square baking pan. bake until the bars are golden and firm at the edges, about 20 minutes. Cool the pan on a rack for about 2 minutes, then use a sharp knife to cut into 16 squares. Let the bars cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before removing them with a small spatula. The bars can be stored, tightly covered, for up to 5 days, or frozen for 1 month.