Growing up we had the best dog, a golden retriever named Mollie. I know a lot of people think they have the best dog, but I’m sorry to report to the dog lovers out there that Mollie was literally the best. Every year around Christmas time my family would make a variety of Christmas cookies, including a cookie called Pecan Butter Balls. One year, the family made the Pecan Butter Balls and someone (there is much internal family debate about who this individual was) left the cookies too close to the edge of the counter to cool, and Mollie ate every single one when no one was watching. Every year after that, Mollie would immediately run into the kitchen and go bananas (e.g., running in circles, barking, howling, etc.) when she smelled the Pecan Butter Balls baking. The taste was imprinted on her memory. Although she never got to eat a whole batch again, every year we always gave Mollie at least a few of the cookies because she was, truly, such a good girl. The cookies are now known in my family as “Mollie’s Pecan Butter Balls.” Mollie died a long time ago, but every year when we make the cookies, our family remembers the best dog there ever was.

Recipe adapted from a 1960s edition of Woman’s Day Encyclopedia of Cookery, with modern updates influenced by creative-culinary.com.

• 1 cup soft (not runny!) butter
• 1/4 cup granulated whitesugar
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1/2 salt
• 2 cups finely chopped pecans (you can roast your pecans briefly before chopping, or use raw pecans)
• Confectioner’s sugar

1. Finely chop the pecans. You can use a food processor for this step if you have one.
2. Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and mix until combined.
3. Add flour and salt and mix thoroughly.
4. Add nuts and incorporate into dough.
5. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.
6. Roll into 1-inch balls and place one inch apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees until set but not brown. Remove from oven and let set for 1 minute.
7. Roll in confectioner’s sugar.
8. Roll again if desired when cookies are cool.