Martha Washington Candies

Here is a candy that can be given as gifts during the holidays or just gobbled up whenever you have a hankering for it. They are a hand-dipped pecan candy in a fondant-like base. Recipe yield: 8 dozen. INGREDIENTS • 1 cup margarine • 4 cups confectioners' sugar • 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk • 2 cups shredded coconut • 2 cups chopped pecans • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips DIRECTIONS 1. Line 2 cookie sheets with wax paper. Set aside. 2. Mix margarine, sugar and sweetened condensed milk in large mixing bowl. Add coconut, pecans, and vanilla; mix well, using a sturdy large spoon. Chill until firm enough to handle. 3. Form into small balls and place on prepared cookie sheets. Chill until very firm. 4. Melt chocolate chips in top pot of double boiler over simmering water. Using a toothpick, dip balls into melted chocolate. Let cool on wax paper.