These light, delicate cookies are a family favorite. You can decorate them with pecan halves or candied cherry halves, but leave some plain for the kids.

Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter, sugar, and VANILLA together. Add the egg and beat until the batter is light and fluffy. Gently mix in the flour, salt, and baking powder to make a soft dough. Drop by the scant (barely full) teaspoon, 2 inches apart, on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for about 8 minutes at 350°. Use a thin, flexible spatula to remove the cookies from the pans, as they do not rise much and can be a tad difficult to remove from the pan. Using parchment paper or a cookie sheet that has no rim makes it easier. Remove the cookies right away, or they will stick. Top with pecan halves or candied cherries immediately after removing the cookies from the pan.

Prep. time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 8 minutes per batch
Yield: about 30 cookies