Mom's Pecan Balls

Since both of my parents no longer live in the family home, when we cleaned their house out in the Summer of 2016, many of their belongings went to different members of the family. I was able to get a few of the recipe boxes with some of my mom's handwritten recipes. Yes, it is hard to think back that far, but in those many years before the Internet and computers, recipes were actually written on recipe "cards." This particular card had a plastic "sleeve," covering it, which makes me think she made them a lot. My mom is the one that instilled my love of baking. Every Christmas for many years, she would make me a dozen or so of these pecan balls and give them to me. It meant so much to me that she did that! Unfortunately, her days of baking are over, since she has been bedridden for the past two years or so and living in a skilled nursing facility.

That makes me kind of sad, but at the same time I'm glad I have her recipe card and I plan on making a bunch for the holidays this year!

Ingredients

Cookies:

7/8 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup powdered sugar

2 cups white flour

1 cup finely chopped pecans

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cold water

For rolling: 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Put the butter and powdered sugar in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer or by hand with a large spoon. Gradually add the flour, pecans, vanilla extract and water. Mix with a large spoon until the batter starts to form.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and using the palms of your hands, roll into 30 equal-sized balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and let them stand  on the cookie sheet for five minutes. In a small bowl, put the 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. While still warm, roll each pecan ball carefully and completely in powdered sugar. Store covered at room temperature.