• ¾ cups light brown sugar; firmly packed
• ¾ cups pecan pieces
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or margarine; softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 dash sea salt
• 1 recipe Tart Shells
• Powdered sugar (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Combine brown sugar, pecans, egg, butter, vanilla extract and salt; mix until blended. Spoon mixture into tart shells, filling three-fourths full.
3. Bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes or until browned. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

Yield: 2 dozen

Tart Shells

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 ounces cream cheese; softened
• ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; softened

1. Combine all ingredients; stir until blended. Shape dough into 24 balls; chill.
2. Place in greased 1¾-inch tart pans, shaping each ball into a shell.

Yield: 2 dozen