Dear Reader, I once met a man who shocked me so much that I was rendered speechless.
Within five minutes of meeting him, he told me that his father ran an entire prominent European country. Within an hour he told me that he found the food in China “uncivilised.” Within half a day, he told me that his favourite accent was NYLON. When I asked him what “NYLON” was he said that it was the transatlantic accent that people that fly from New York to London-hence NY – LON.
Within a day he told me that a certain country in South America had nothing to offer him in terms of shopping as he “only buys European leather.” I didn’t know at that point whether we had been Punk’d or not.
These biscuits are not for him. Mainly because I don’t like jokes where I can’t tell whether the person is joking or not 
Ever since I had heard of these Mexican wedding cookies or Polvorón I wanted to make them. They’re a shortbread cousin of the Greek almond biscuit Kourabiethes which I grew up gladly eating as we had a Greek neighbour two doors down. Snagging one of those warm out of the bowl of downy icing sugar turned any day around and I’d lick off the extra icing sugar that had fallen on my hands while eating them.
They’re simple to make, I like to toast the pecans first just to get the extra flavour and even with this, it’s a simple cookie. I added some extra cinnamon and orange zest although I don’t know if that is traditional or not but I thought that it gave the biscuits a little extra lift. These are served during Christmas time in Spain and during weddings or celebrations in Mexico. And in Russia, they’re also known as Russian Tea Cakes and were served with tea during the 18th century.
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your favourite accent? And did you know what NYLON meant? Do you think he was joking? What’s your favourite cookie?
Mexican Wedding Cookies
Preparation time: 20 minutes (including toasting of nuts)
Baking time: 20 minutes
Makes about 32 cookies
- 115g/1 stick butter, softened
- 1/2 cup caster or superfine sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 120g/4 ozs toasted pecans, cooled and finely ground
- 1 cup / 150g/ 5ozs plain all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 cup pure icing or powdered sugar, sifted
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69 Comments | Add your own
Those are some of my favorite cookies (I bake a batch every Xmas)! yours look very tempting.
Cheers,
Rosa
These look so delicious, I love the addition of the spices and nuts in this cookie. Wish I didn’t still have cookies left over from my Christmas baking, otherwise I would definitely make these. My favourite accent is French, but then a lovely Italian accent could make my knees weak too (from a guy, of course!)
I had no idea about the “nylon” accent.
About the cookies: my parents are Portuguese and around the time they got married there was a type of cookies people made to bring good luck to their marriage. They still have 2 cookies, for good luck. erm… 1 and 1/2, actually, since I ate half of one when I was a child.
You had me hooked at the man who rendered you speechless. My favorite cookie? Love big almond cookies in Chinese restaurants at the end of the meal with Jasmine tea. In Honolulu they sell them in big cello packages of 8. Favorite accent? Yours!
NYLON..seriously? Not sure if that person was joking, I mean there are people so strange in this world.
These cookies are one of my favorites, so simple and easy to make. Good idea to toast pecans, these give an extra flavor.
He sounds like a complete w*nker if you ask me.
A belated happy new year to you and Mr NQN.
Oooh, I like the double dipping of icing sugar! I wonder if that guy was serious – did you google him to check?
Nice one, Lorraine. I like that you beefed up the flavourings too. I often add more than a recipe says – after all, you do want to taste the flavours, don’t you!?
I wouldn’t have a clue what nylon meant I was thinking of te fabric ! My favorite accent would be either Canadian or Irish.
My favorite biscuit is melting moments sometimes called yo-yos.
I think people who are genuine are usually guarded and will tell you on little bits about themselves as the relationship develops. I’m highly suspicious of strangers who have a desire to impress at the top of their agenda. No, I’ve never heard of NYLON but I’m assuming those affected talk like snobs??? I love Mexican wedding biscuits xx
Is it a joke to be kind of pompous and obnoxious? I’d say it’s not that funny in any company.
I love these cookies. I don’t bake all that much but a cookie with nuts and zest is something I have to try! Yum
NYLON? Never heard of it! That guy sounds like he had a few issues- I think he needs a cookie or two to sweeten up a bit
Pecans are so yummy, and it’s a nice change from most recipes that use almonds for everything, lovely recipe indeed!
I think after some research you will find that 1 ‘stick’ of butter is 125 g. not 115g. It is exactly half the standard pack of butter which is always 250g.
cheers
Ann, actually no, one stick of butter is not 125grams at all. It’s technically 113.4grams but I put 115 grams as 2 grams doesn’t really matter but 10grams does. I invite you to google it.
What delectable cookies indeed, TRUE!
is only brekkie, but can I please have one too?
I find the Kiwi accent unique. As the different accent, words and phrases to me was and is always full of mystique!
Re your Mr Know It All Friend…NYLON is the slang for people traveling from NY to London…Can only guess his reference meant that certain words tend to slip into people’s accents and vocabularies while traveling the world.
If you heard my accent these days, it is of the Heinz 57 variety and people are more than happy to point of (or laugh) at what THEY think is funny too!
French. Definitely French. And somehow the guy seemed so full of himself that maybe he wasn’t joking…NYLON–never heard of it until now. Great recipe for a classic standby cookie!
We call them snowballs and shape them as balls and have them every Xmas thru the generations. Yes, they are a simple cookie and that’s the best. It is not Xmas in our home without them and I love the old recipe the best from Betty Homes and Gardens 50 year or cookbook!
I don’t think I’ve had a mexican cookie before but it sure does look delightful!
What a character! The cookies sounds really yum – I’m in the process of collecting wedding ideas (woot!). Thanks for sharing these.
Personally I think there is nothing better than a lovely lilting Irish accent! As for my favourite biscuit (Lorraine, is there any difference between a biscuit and a cookie, apart from country of origin?)it’s a toss-up between a really good melting moment or a ginger kiss. Wish I had one now to go with my morning cup of tea.
Hi Lorraine, I love these types of cookies. I am going to make some of these, they look delicious! I had no idea what NYLON meant and that man sounds like a complete tosser! Being married to a Canadian I have to say that it’s my favourite accent but I’d have to say the British accent comes very close. Favourite cookie would have to be chocolate chip.
I’m another fan of the
Irish accent. And I love chocolate chip cornflake cookies.
Even if he was joking: what an ass.
I remember falling in love with Oliver Wood’s accent in the first Harry Potter movie, so I think that would be Scottish?
Oh these sound so delicious! I always make Greek Shortbread so I know I will be a fan!
What a strange man you met :/ I wouldn’t know how to take all those comments :0!
Happy New Year!
Love the sound of these cookies, so they’ll be definitely ‘on the list to make’….trouble is the list keeps getting longer and longer.
re the butter measurement @Ann, you need to know all sorts of measurements … 1 stick was always 1/2 cup; 1/2 cup equals 4 ounces; 4 ounces equals 113.398gms. But now a metric 1/2 cup is 125gms. Cooking can be so complicated sometimes with even different countries having different cup and spoons measurements.
Geez, I hope he was joking – shame he isn’t very funny. I love Mexican Wedding Cookies, but my favourite biscuits are Florentines.
hehehe I hope that by the end of the day you told him a few things too
.
love the cookies!
Ciao
Alessandra
I was going to correct ann as well. Why would a stick of butter be half of 250g when the US don’t traditionally use metric anyway? More likely theirs weighs 1/2 lb which is not 250g (although close)
I made these yesterday sans orange and cinnamon. My recipe is called Pecan Puff Biscuits but is pretty identical to these.
I’m another fan of the Irish accent. It sounds so gentle and soothing.
What an odd conversation! I’d be just as perplexed as you. The cookies – much more pleasurable and welcome! Hope you have a great 2013 Lorraine!
These are amazing…I’ve never tried making them at home, maybe now I will! Thanks!
they look lovely.
i find people like that hard to understand too….
I grew up calling these “Butter Balls”… First cooking class in primary school the identical recipe was called Russian Tea Cakes… Then my mother got a cook book where they were called Mexican Wedding Cakes. Whatever the name they have always been my favourite.
Not sure if that guy is joking or not, but he sounds like a douche to me.
Those cookies look great Lorraine. And traditional or not, but I definitely like your addition of cinnamon and orange zest.
No, I have no idea what NYLON is.
I do have a thing for Irish accent…
I’ve got to love a woman in Australia who measures her butter in sticks
I’m glad you didn’t give that guy the time of day – what a creep. Save the cookies for someone like me who deserves them and can’t speak nylon.
I keep meaning to make these. But I am just took damn lazy lately.
My favourite accent is Gloria from Modern Family during the Halloween special. Hilarious.
Oh these cookies look scrumptious1 With toasted pecans, cinnamon, and orange, I know they’re good!
Now I got to know, where did you meet this person?
Had no idea what NYLON meant either, what a strange one but he sounds like an interesting dude.
What a strange fellow! I’ve never heard of NYLON and my favourite accent is Irish. I love the adaptations you made to the recipe. I’ve definitely added them to the to-bake list!
Lorraine -am I getting old, could not get the socalled joke. Enlighten me, please. NYLON -never heard of this until now. Cookies delisted. Accent – soft irish lilt, so charming! Carina
These are the loveliest cookies! They start out powdery and crumbly, then melt into buttery mouthfuls. Good on you for adding citrus zest for some zing!
How delish, Lorraine. And that chappie doesn’t deserved home baked biscuits from the sound of things!
Anyone who has the hide to say Chinese food is “uncivilised” deserves whatever’s coming to get him, what pretentiousness and that goes for NYLON speakers too! Beefing up the orange zest is always a big win for me! Favourite accent is Scottish.
These look soo good! Num num.
I think I dated him too. I went through some completely unkind nutters before mr right eventually rescued me from my awful taste in men and hijacked me-I think I will make him some of these tomorrow in appreciation of him being so normal and kind.
Love a good spiced bikkie. Thanks. Although cookie does erk me a little in Australia. Since these are Mexican, you are forgiven : )
Is cookie American and biscuit English? I know a biscuit in USA is more like our scone?sheesh.
Ah how smart of you to add the cinnamon and orange zest… these two ingredients always lift the flavours of bakes.
Oh Im with Maureen. I cant speak Nylon either and I dont think I really like the sound of Nylon anyway. I do always like Mexican wedding biscuits though and Id always be up for one
I’ve heard wonderful things about these biscuits! Who can say no to buttery, crumbly biscuits?
These are my absolute favorite cookies of all time. And I wish I had dated at least one guy with a Scottish accent before getting hitched. Maybe that’s just because I have a thing for James McAvoy.
These look so good – I love how this type of cookie melts in your mouth. I like the idea of citrus zest in them…
As for accent? Any accent that is foreign to me spoken by a child. That’s my favorite.
And favorite cookie? Too many choices!
Happy New Year my friend!
These are very similar to cookies I’ve made since I was a child that are called simply ‘Pecan Butter Balls.’ They are my favorite cookie; not only because I truly do love them but because they are a treasured recipe from my grandmother; she of Scandinavian descent. The ONLY change I’ve ever made? You did it too…toasting the nuts before mixing them for baking makes them even better.
Gosh this guy you met was weirddddd to say that least
I wouldn’t know how to react if he told me that his favourite accent was NYLON!
I love the British accent hehe ~ It’s so classy!
And my favourite cookies would HAVE to be CHOCOLATE CHIP! Nothing beats a chewy, soft and yummy choc chip cookie
These are one of my favorite cookies. They melt in your mouth. I make them every year for Christmas.
A little cinnamon and orange zest sounds like a great way to dress up wedding cookies. xoxo Mum
these have a tendency to be really dry, but that’s usually okay thanks to the coating upon coating of powdered sugar!
Simple & delicious. Yum!
These look so beautiful & festive! I adore Russian, it sounds so beautiful to me.
Heidi xo
I’m so glad that my holiday or Sunday habit is to make myself something yummy for brunch along with a huge cup of tea before grabbing the iPad & catching up on your adventures.
Lorraine you are too nice by half, this person sounds like a…. Won’t write it
Luckily there is no butter here as everything else is in the baking cupboard to ake these cookies & after reading this & your Biota post & eating that substantial brunch I’m still drooling.
Love your work!
I’m so glad that my holiday or Sunday habit is to make myself something yummy for brunch along with a huge cup of tea before grabbing the iPad & catching up on your adventures.
Lorraine you are too nice by half, this person sounds like a…. Won’t write it
have read that NYLON thing somewhere before… Probably in a trashy novel.
Luckily there is no butter here as everything else is in the baking cupboard to ake these cookies & after reading this & your Biota post & eating that substantial brunch I’m still drooling.
Love your work!
Ps. Accent. Can’t beat Sean Connery.
OMG, that guy sounds like a nightmare. A pretentious one at that. Now, these cookies, on the other hand, sound like an absolute dream come true.
I’ve never heard of NYLON but love coming here for all the latest buzz words
I suspect this man would have made me think of many words but not many that can be repeated here. I love your version of these cookies. Hope you have a happy 2013 with lots of good food
These cookies look divine and I would have dumped the left over icing sugar over his head!
Aha people like that deserve only scorn, you ask me. And these lovely cookies – I’ve always wanted to make them. I love the idea of licking the powdered sugar off my hands, the cookies, the tabletop…. Happy New Year, dear Lorraine!
Yum yum! My favorite cookies must be chocolate chip or butter cookies, yet I like most any kind of homemade ones. I was wondering if you know why these cookies are name Mexican Wedding Cookies, since they’re not that common or served in a Mexican Wedding or a Mexican Home.
I like a lot of accents…British, French, Australian:) I love these cookies too(we are on the same wavelength; I just posted some:)), but my favorite are no-bake cocoa oatmeal.
Have just made these to take as gift boxes for meet up with group of friends tomorrow. So very easy, sorry I did alter recipe slightly by adding extra orange zest and 3/4 tspn ground cardamom, as the combo of those 2 is amazing!(and I love cardamom) Tasted one straight out of oven even before it got its icing sugar coating and it is totally delish! Thanks Lorraine for yet another failsafe recipe.
Hi dirtgirl! How fabulous! I’m so glad that you tried them and liked them and fabulous idea about adding cardamom! I’m going to try that on my next catch!! You’re very welcome and thanks for reporting back!
I think he must have been having you on Lorraine! At least, I think so! Being quite gullible myself, maybe not – I tend to believe most things I am told! I absolutely love the french accent, oh la la!! And, no I have never heard that expression NYLON! I honestly think he made that one up! Must tell you I tried the cookie recipe last night, taking advice from ‘dirtgirl’ adding the cardamon and extra orange zest. Loved the flavour, will definitely make these for the grandchildren, although I found them quite sweet, so I might drop the sugar quantity down a little! My favourite cookie is a macadamia and white chocolate!
I’ve seen these cookies on food blogs but I’ve never had or seen them before. I love your cute font that you’ve been using lately.
Favourite accent is people from the ‘South’ as in down Mississippi way in America. I could listen to it all day.
Most unusual accent was a chinese-born fellow that spoke with a very strong Californian accent!
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