Dec 20, 2023·edited Dec 20, 2023Liked by Elissa Altman
Yum! I used to make these, but rolled them in powdered sugar. I always warned people not to inhale before opening their mouths to bite into the cookie, but there would always be the reckless soul who refused to listen and then coughed for an hour. I like the idea of the granulated sugar -- making today!
Omg, such a great memory. My mother made these cookies, called them Pecan Dainties, and always had a pecan half on the top. (She flattened the dough balls a bit first.) My Aunt Julie also made them, but rolled them in powdered sugar and called them snowballs. (That was too sweet for me.). I think that version are also known as Mexican wedding cookies. I may have to make them for our Christmas brunch for orphans on Monday.
Love this essay (?) My Mom made these every Christmas; they were and remain to this day my favorite cookies. Also, who didn't rely on those old magazines and cookbooks.
Such a great recipe. One year when I made these one of my kids decided they should be called “Noel Nut Balls” so that’s what we call them around here.😆
Oh my!! That cookbook. My mother, who could not cook, had those. I remember them in the house. No on ever cooked from them, except probably me. How funny. And Mrs. Herbst's, one of several extraordinary bakeries in the UES/Yorkville neighborhood where I grew up in (as did my mom, before me). Mmmm. Lots of memories. Thank you. Oh, and these cookies look delicious.
Delightful. You had me hooked with "I had, and have, no sweet tooth". This year a 1 kilo bag of chopped pecans made it into my cabinet, and I have been trying to think of what to do with them. We are doing Christmas at Mamie's this year, so I have time this afternoon to whip up a batch of these, light a candle, and wrap the last gifts while they bake. Thank you, Elissa.
Such a detailed and hilariously nostalgic memory was jostled by the part involving "threats to remove dentures". That was my Grandmother Mimi! Thank you for the smile and the recipe.
I just went out and bought pecans! My oh my, those sound good. But I could never get them into those perfect balls like Susan does. (love that photo) Even with an ice cream scoop, I make a mess. And honestly this was such a great essay - sucked me right in and I couldn't stop reading. (I did hit a bump at that part about the brilliant food writer, but I'll take the compliment with a glass of milk and two pecan balls.) Hoping for a peaceful holiday for you two!
Yum! I used to make these, but rolled them in powdered sugar. I always warned people not to inhale before opening their mouths to bite into the cookie, but there would always be the reckless soul who refused to listen and then coughed for an hour. I like the idea of the granulated sugar -- making today!
Omg, such a great memory. My mother made these cookies, called them Pecan Dainties, and always had a pecan half on the top. (She flattened the dough balls a bit first.) My Aunt Julie also made them, but rolled them in powdered sugar and called them snowballs. (That was too sweet for me.). I think that version are also known as Mexican wedding cookies. I may have to make them for our Christmas brunch for orphans on Monday.
Yes, my mother makes something similar! They are peerless among holiday sweets and irresistible beyond imagining.
Look delicious!
Love this essay (?) My Mom made these every Christmas; they were and remain to this day my favorite cookies. Also, who didn't rely on those old magazines and cookbooks.
Does Susan roll them in sugar typically?
Yes--I’ve had them both ways but the crunch of the sugar and the hit of salt is wonderful.
Thank you for sharing this! Good memories. 💚
Me too 🫶
Such a great recipe. One year when I made these one of my kids decided they should be called “Noel Nut Balls” so that’s what we call them around here.😆
Oh, the magic of home-baked cookies... especially those with family memories attached.
Oh my!! That cookbook. My mother, who could not cook, had those. I remember them in the house. No on ever cooked from them, except probably me. How funny. And Mrs. Herbst's, one of several extraordinary bakeries in the UES/Yorkville neighborhood where I grew up in (as did my mom, before me). Mmmm. Lots of memories. Thank you. Oh, and these cookies look delicious.
Thanks to this, I made them yesterday for Christmas Eve. They were delicious.
Delightful. You had me hooked with "I had, and have, no sweet tooth". This year a 1 kilo bag of chopped pecans made it into my cabinet, and I have been trying to think of what to do with them. We are doing Christmas at Mamie's this year, so I have time this afternoon to whip up a batch of these, light a candle, and wrap the last gifts while they bake. Thank you, Elissa.
Such a detailed and hilariously nostalgic memory was jostled by the part involving "threats to remove dentures". That was my Grandmother Mimi! Thank you for the smile and the recipe.
This was such a joy to read. Thank you!! 🤗 happy holidays :)
I just went out and bought pecans! My oh my, those sound good. But I could never get them into those perfect balls like Susan does. (love that photo) Even with an ice cream scoop, I make a mess. And honestly this was such a great essay - sucked me right in and I couldn't stop reading. (I did hit a bump at that part about the brilliant food writer, but I'll take the compliment with a glass of milk and two pecan balls.) Hoping for a peaceful holiday for you two!