Jewal's Thumbprint Cookies

from the kitchen of Jewal

1/4 c sugar
1 c butter
2 c flour
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 c finely chopped pecans (opt)

Cream together sugar and butter. Beat in flour, vanilla and salt.  Stir in pecans. Roll into balls and make a tumbprint in each cookie (to make a nest for the frosting). Bake at 300 degrees for 20-30 minutes.  Remove to cooling rack.  Cool cookies and fill with frosting.

Frosting:
1 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp almond flavoring
and enough water to make it the right consistancy to drip off the top of a spoon.  Color 1/2 of frosting red and 1/2 of it green.  Makes 3 dozen.

variation:  Some of the  dough may be rolled into small balls, baked and then rolled in powdered sugar.