Great food fills PAIGE ANDERSON’S (Nashville, Tennessee) memories of childhood with her Memi Jackie, JACQUELYN B. ANDERSON (also of Nashville). From a meal as lavish as a Christmas dinner to one as simple as a Sunday breakfast, good food had a starring role in her home and on her table. And despite all the hours of work, preparation, and love that Memi puts into her dishes, she makes each creation seem effortless—incredible meals flow from her hands as easily and warmly as hugs from her arms and love from her heart. These cookies are a favorite holiday treat for Paige.
2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract powdered sugar for dusting
1 Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2 In a large bowl combine the butter, flour, pecans, and vanilla extract until the mixture forms a dough.
3 Form the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll out each ball slightly and curve it to create a crescent shape. Place the cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
4 Bake for 15 minutes, until lightly browned on the bottom. Cool completely and then dust the cookies with powdered sugar.
MAKES 20 TO 25 COOKIES.