Craig Claiborne's Cardamom Cookies

From: http://bakingsheet.blogspot.com/2005/07/you-cant-go-wrong-with-maida-heatter.html Makes 45 cookies.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 3/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Sift together flour and cream of tartar into a medium bowl.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter, cardamom, baking soda and salt. Add sugar and beat until well combined. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually stir in flour mixture.
4. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and flatten them slightly with the palm of your hand onto a parchment lined baking sheet. They will spread a bit, but not too much, as they bake.
5. Bake for 10 minutes, until cookies are a light, golden brown. Let them rest on the baking sheet for several minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.