Russian Teacakes & 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies

Every Christmas I try to organize a cookie exchange at work. It gives me a reason to bake a billion cookies and I love coming home with an assortment of different cookies for the holidays. One year a co-worker brought in these cookies. They have a lot of different names: Russian Teacakes, Mexican Wedding Cakes, Snowballs. But no matter what they are called, they are delicious!

So every year I make these cookies and I eat the entire batch. I'm serious. I eat them all! So one year I thought I'd be smart and make a double batch. Nope, ate those too. What's wrong with me?!?! They are so tasty. Not too sweet so you can eat a lot of them =o) but sweet enough to be a treat.

This year when I made them I had to pause to think about this time of year. My co-worker-friend is no longer my co-worker. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's last Spring and, as a result, has had to leave teaching. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. Because, have you ever met someone that just oozed kindness? Someone who's laughter truly is contagious and whose heart is amazing and kind and huge? Well, that is Peggy. She was born to be a teacher. She was put on this earth to touch the lives of students and parents and co-workers just by being her.

We used to laugh because the students used to get us mixed up. They would walk down the hall and say hello to me (but call me her name). Apparently we look alike, which I take as a HUGE compliment! I would laugh and remind them of my name and then say "She is much nicer and way better looking than me".

So when I made these cookies (and yes, I ate them all already. What's wrong with me?!?!) I thought a lot about Peggy and the justice of it all. Why someone so amazing would have to go through something like this. How I miss seeing her at work and hearing her laugh. Even though we still get together occasionally and hang out, there's something missing at work without her there.

So I will continue to make these cookies every year. I will think about how much fun working with Peggy was. I will email her each year and tell her thank you for making me eat another 60 cookies in one week. =o) And I will be reminded of how much one person can change the lives of so many.

So these are for Peggy. Except I ate them all =o(

Ingredients:
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 1/2 cup powdered sugar
* 1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract
* 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
* 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* more powdered sugar!

Heat over to 400 degrees.
Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and vanilla.
Stir in flour, nuts and salt.
Shape into 1 inch balls.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet, 1 inch apart.
Bake 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden brown.

Cool a few minutes.
Roll in powdered sugar.
Let sit a couple of minutes.
Roll again in powdered sugar. (Make sure you do this step. it makes a difference!)
Now try to eat just one.

Come join us in week 7 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies Blog Hop!

And don't forget to check out the other great linky parties in my sidebar.