Can you believe it is December already!?  WOW.  Time to start thinking of the baking to be done.  A baking tradition going back years in our family is Pecan Tassies!  It’s a way to eat pecan pie without overindulging – unless you eat a lot of them!   They are pretty simple to make and they are rich and sweet.

To make 2 dozen:

Crust:

• 1 3-oz pkg Philly Cream Cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup flour

Cream together cream cheese and butter.  Add flour and mix well.  Chill for at least one hour.  Shape into 2 dozen 1-inch balls.  Press into bottoms and sides of ungreased cupcake tins.

Preheat over to 325 degrees.

Filling:

• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla
• dash of salt
• 2/3 cup pecans, chopped

Beat together eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla and salt until smooth (I whip til it is airy)

Divide half the pecans among the pastry-lined tins.  Add filling by teaspoonful; top with remaining pecans.

Bake for 25 minutes.  Cool in pans.  Remove.  These keep for quite awhile in an airtight container.

Mangia Bene!