1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
Place butter and eggs in large bowl. Beat together 2 thirds of the sugar, 1 cup flour, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, pecans and half the sugar mixture (about 1/2 cup). Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar mixture. Pour batter into greased paper liners.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Check to see that the tops of the muffins have cracked. Remove from oven and sprinkle with pecans. Cool in refrigerator. Serve warm.