Preheat oven at 350. Line as many cookie sheets as are available with aluminum foil.
Pour sesame seeds into shallow baking pan. Toast the seeds in oven for 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes to prevent burning. Remove and let cool before adding to cookie dough.
In large mixing bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, egg, flour and van extract. Beat until well mixed. Stir in toasted sesame seeds.
Drop dough onto foil-lined sheets, using 1/2 tsp. for each cookie, and space the cookies at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets immediately and cool.
Recipe submitted by Nick on 8/28/00