Mexican Mice

Source: 2nd place winner Chicago Tribune cookie contest

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting
2 cups flour
1 cup finely ground pecans
1/4 teaspoon salt
Chow mein noodles, mini chocolate chips, sliced almonds

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Beat butter and vanilla extract in bowl of electric mixture until light and fluffy. Add sugar; beat until combined. Mix in flour, pecans and salt. Shape dough into 1-inch ovals, tapering one end. Bake 15 minutes.

Remove from oven; insert noodle at tail end and 2 almonds about 1/3 of the way from pointed end for ears. Return to oven; bake until slightly browned, about 12 minutes.

Remove from oven; immediately place two chocolate chips in from of ears for eyes. (Chocolate will melt slightly and stick to cookie.) Dust mice with confectioners' sugar. Cool on wire rack.

Yield about 3 dozen.