why don't you marry them?

"they were really good"
-dom (referring to the Mexican Wedding Cakes)

the cookies getting ready for my friend's pre-wedding bbq

resting up

powdered and ready

posing in white

it was good practice for The Big Day.

recipe follows

Mexican Wedding Cakes

(adapted from Joy of Cooking)

Cookies:

• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened (we used vegetable shortening to make them non-dairy)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Finishing:

• 1/3 cup powdered sugar

1. Beat the butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, vanilla and salt on medium speed until very fluffy (if you use shortening it won't get too fluffy) and well blended.
2. Sift flour over the top and stir in until well blended.
3. Pull off pieces of the dough and roll between your palms into generous 1-inch balls. Space about 1-1/4 inches apart on the sheets. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until the cookies are faintly tinged with brown, 12 to 15 minutes; rotate the sheet halfway through baking for even browning.
4. Remove the sheet to a rack and let stand until the cookies firm slightly. Then transfer the cookies to racks to cool completely (this is key).
5. Put the 1/3 cup of powdered sugar with cookies into a plastic bag and cookies until coated all over.