Cooking for Yuletide-Part One: Pecan Tattletales

So today I began my cooking frenzy for our Yuletide feast.  The 25-pound ham is defrosting and I've started making cookies.  I'm making three types of cookies, one candy, a cake and a pie.  That should do it for sweets.

Today, I made my personal family favorite, simply known as Pecan Balls.  I posted it last year but, since I make them every year, here it is again. 

One of my friends renamed them as Tattletales and it's a good name.  It's obvious to everyone when you eat one, as the powdered sugar always manages to land right on you shirt.  LOL 

Tattletales aka Pecan Balls
4 cups Flour
1 pound Butter
1-1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 cup Sugar
2 cups Pecans
Powdered Sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Chop pecans fine and set aside.

Cream sugar and softened butter. 

Add vanilla. 
Slowly add flour, one cup at a time.  Add nuts.

Make into 2-inch balls. 

Bake until light golden brown.  Let cool slightly. 

Roll in powdered sugar and devour!

One tip:  For extra flakiness, refrigerate the cookies after you make them into balls. 

You can make different flavors too.  Substitute almonds for the pecans and almond extract for the vanilla.  Bake as normal but don't roll in powdered sugar.  Let cookies cool then drizzle with melted milk or dark chocolate, then drizzle with melted cherry flavored chips if you can find them.  Delicious.  Use walnuts and maple flavoring.  Substitute mini chocolate chips for some or all of the nuts.  I've also used toasted coconut and dipped them in white chocolate.  Use your imagination.