[Balboa, Cuidad de Panamá, Rep. of Panamá; 85º 56'N/079º 33' W]

These heavenly cookies always remind us of Christmas with family as Leslie's mother, Eleanor Linkkila, always keeps batches of these available for hungry elves.  Her secret is to cream butter and sugar vigorously and thoroughly.

2 sticks of butter
1/3 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of water
2 teaspoonse of vanilla
2 cups of flour
1 cup of chopped pecans (a nut grinder works great)
1/2 cups confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 325° F

Cream butter and sugar, add water and vanilla. Mix well, add flour and pecans. Chill 3 hours. Shape into balls and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 20 minutes. Cool and roll in confectioner's sugar. Makes 3 dozen.