Eight-Trick Butter Cookies

2 1/2 cups Pillsbury`s Best All Purpose Flour* -- sifted

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon French`s Cream of Tartar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups confectioners` sugar -- sifted

1 egg -- unbeaten

1 teaspoon French`s Vanilla

candied cherry half or Funsten`s Walnut Ha

BAKE at 400 degrees. MAKES 5 to 6 dozen. Sift together flour, soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Cream butter. Gradually add sugar, creaming well. Blend in egg and vanilla; beat well. Add the dry ingredients gradually; mix well. Drop by half teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Top with candied cherry half or walnut half. (Or shape as directed in following variations, using ungreased baking sheets.) *For use with Pillsbury`s Best Self-Rising Flour, omit soda, cream of tartar and salt. VARIATIONS: For snowballs: Stir in 1 1/2 cups Funsten`s Walnuts, chopped or ground. Chill dough. Shape by teaspoonfuls into balls. Roll warm cookies in confectioners` sugar. Cool, roll again in sugar. For Butter Fingers: Stir in 1 cup Funsten`s Nuts, chopped, 1/2 cup chopped well-drained maraschino or candied cherries. Chill dough. Shape by teaspoonfuls into oblong finger cookies. Bake 8 to 12 minutes. Roll warm cookies in sugar. Cool, roll again in sugar. For Jewel Clusters: Blend in 1 teaspoon grated orange rind, 2 teaspoons orange juice, 1/2 cup mixed candied fruit and 1 cup Funsten`s Nuts, chopped. Drop by half teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. For Cinnamon Balls: Chill dough. Shape by teaspoonfuls into balls, then roll in mixture of 1/4 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons French`s Cinnamon. For Butter Crispies (rolled cookie): Chill dough. Roll out on well-floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with floured cutters. Bake 5 to 8 minutes. For Butter Thinsies (refrigerator cookie): Chill dough. Shape into rolls, 2 inches in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper; chill at least 2 hours. Cut into 1/8-inch slices. If desired, sprinkle with chopped coconut or Funsten`s Nuts. Bake 6 to 8 minutes. For Chocolate Mint Creams: Stir in 2 squares (2 ounces) melted unsweetened chocolate. Chill dough. Shape into rolls, 2 inches in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper; chill at least 2 hours. Cut int 1/8-inch slices. Bake 6 to 8 minutes. Cool. Spread half of cookies with Peppermint Frosting. Top with remaining cookies. For Molasses Spice Crisps: Stir in 1/4 cup molasses, 2 teaspoons French`s Cinnamon, 1 teaspoon French`s Ginger and 1/2 teaspoon French`s Nutmeg. Chill dough. Roll out on well-floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with floured cookie cutters. Bake 6 to 8 minutes.