½ cup (1 stick) butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg, separated
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Caramel filling
½ cup Semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening

In small saucepan, combine 14 unwrapped light caramels and 3 T whipping c ream. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth.

Cookies:
In a small mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar, egg yolk, milk and vanilla until blended. Stir together flour, cocoa and salt; blend into butter mixture. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.

Heat oven to 350⁰F. Lightly grease cookie sheet. Beat egg white slightly. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Dip each ball into egg white; roll in pecans to coat. Place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheet. Press thumb gently in center of each ball.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Meanwhile prepare Caramel Filling. Remove cookies from oven; carefully press center of each cookie again with thumb to make indentation. Immediately spoon about ½ teaspoon Caramel Filling in center of each cookie. Carefully remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

In small microwave-safe bowl, place chocolate chips and shortening. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until smooth when stirred. Place wax paper under wire rack with cookies. Drizzle chocolate mixture over top of cookies. (Use a baggie to put the chocolate in and snip off the corner of the bottom…then drizzle over the cookies) Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

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What Do We Love About Christmas?

What do we love about Christmas;
Does our delight reside in things?
Or are the feelings in our hearts
The real gift that Christmas brings.
It’s seeing those we love,
And sending Christmas cards, too,
Appreciating people who bring us joy
Special people just like you.
By Joanna Fuchs