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.

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Comments

  1. We call them Mexican Wedding Cookies… and they are seriously my favorite cookie of all time!! Thanks for sharing!

  2. These are one of my favorite cookies any time of year. I’m sorry to read abouto Peggy. I know how much you must miss her at school.

  3. Sweet tribute to your friend! My mom made these every Christmas, and I love them!

  4. What a beautiful tribute to your friend. 🙂 We called them Mexican wedding cookies and yours look fantastic!

  5. These look delicious. I’m sure that Peggy appreciates your kind thoughts and emails.

  6. Oh no, I’m already addicted and I haven’t even tasted one yet. Thanks for the recipe! I can’t wait to try these – they look delicious! I’d love for you to add this to my Sweets This Week link party.

    Have a great Friday

    ~Sarah

    ps – I have several recipes that remind me of my mom. She passed away when I was a teenager but making her recipes always bring me back to a happy place with her. …What a lovely tribute to your dear friend, Peggy. Sending up prayers for Peggy, her family, and loved ones 🙂

  7. I loved reading your story, and I love the look of these cookies. Beautiful!

  8. I remember hearing all those names for these cookies before and thinking they were different cookies altogether. Then, I looked at the recipe one day and realized they were all the same thing. Well, what’s in a name after all? Like you said, no matter what they’re called, they’re always delicious.

  9. Here in Texas they are Mexican Wedding Cookies and my favorite too!
    mickey

  10. Erin, I love the stuff you come up with and so I’ve given your blog an award. You can check it out here http://myhobbielobbie.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-very-first-award-yippee.html

  11. yummy!!

  12. Hi Erin,
    I have just enjoyed scrolling back and reading your fun posts. I haven’t made these in such a long time, thanks for reminding me! Be sure to brush the tell tale sugar off your blouse after you eat them! 🙂
    I will pray for your friend, and I am sure an email from you each week will let her know she is missed!
    Have a wonderful Tgiving!
    Kathleen

  13. Erin – I TOTALLY understand about these not leaving the house. You did a beautiful job wiht them and that’s a touching story about your friend. Thank you for sharing.
    Maggie

  14. I had to stop making these cookies because I ate too many. I completely understand your eating the whole batch. They are SO addicting!

  15. This is such a great blog party!
    Hmmm, I’m not sure you and I could be friends though. You see, I made a batch of these cookies this week with intentions of freezing them and except for what my cherub face 3 year old sweet talked me out of, I ate them all. I’m so sorry about your friend. Parkinson’s is such a devistating disease.

  16. Those cookies are sooo yummy! I can’t wait to make them. Your blog is lovely and I am a follower now! Saw you on MM blog hop! stop by when you get the chance:
    http://www.karismaheartsavannah.blogspot.com

  17. Thank you for linking up this recipe at Katie’s Cucina!!!

  18. Such a sweet way to honor your dear friend. My mom made these cookies for us every year at Christmas for as long as I can remember. She passed away in 1997, but I still make them every year in her remembrance. I’ve never had them with almond extract though. I will have to give that a try!

  19. I have tasted cookies similar to these before and absolutely love them. But I do not have a recipe for them. So thank you. I hear you about eating them all…lol A cup of tea and I could go nuts on them:)

    That is just heart breaking about your friend. She is lucky to have a friend like you.

  20. You had me at the word “Russian” 🙂 These might make the final list for the teachers Xmas present this year, IF I can ever finalize it! LOL

  21. I made these tonight thanks to your post 😉 I have to say I’m scared that none will be left by morning. They’re THAT good! Thanks for the recipe.

    Sarah

  22. I love this cookie linky! So many fabulous ideas 🙂

  23. Erin, you rock girl, thats all I have to say. Man I wish I had the time to do all the things you do, you are amazing.

    Those do look pretty darn good, can totally see why you finished them off. 🙂

    Thanks for linking up to **Amaze me August**

    Oh and just letting you know I have a HUGE giveway coming soon, you won’t want to miss it, SEVEN gifts up for grabs. It’s going to be GREAT!!!

    Thanks again,

    Bella 🙂