Jeez only 2 days!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season.  My sisters and nieces and their friends all recently gathered for Christmas cookie baking and a sleepover.  This is when I really miss living so far from my family (they're all the way in Arizona).  It's a wonderful family tradition from my childhood that I remember fondly (my sister Ana bakes the best cookies in the world). It's not stressful - it's just a fun, wonderfully delicious treat.

My mom's special mini pecan pies
(made with pecans from our tree in the backyard)

Ingredients

• 2 cups butter or 2 cups margarine, softened
• 4 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 4 cups flour
• 3 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped ( chopped dried cranberries or mini chips can also be put in with pecans)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. In medium bowl, mix together the margarine and cream cheese until well blended. Beat in flour, 1 cup at a time, until the mixture forms a smooth dough. Chill the dough while making the filling.
3. In another bowl, mix the eggs, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt. Stir in the pecans.
4. Roll into small balls, and press slightly into the bottoms and sides of greased tart pans or mini muffin pans making sure to put some of the dough over the lip of the cup. Use a spoon to fill each of the crusts 2/3 full with the filling. It will overflow if you fill too full.
5. Bake for 15-18 minutes in oven, until shell is lightly browned, and filling has puffed up. Cool, and carefully remove from pan.

It's just the right time to take time out from all the shopping and running around, bake something delicious with your family, and relax!

Images via:  coastal style, maxine brady, pinterest/bhg.com; martha stewart, life is beautiful