North Shore Chicago Hadassah's Lick-Your-Fingers Kugel

For those who observe the dietary laws of kashrut, this can be made with pareve margarine instead of butter for a meat meal and can be used either as a side noodle dish or a dessert.

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter or margarine, melted
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup pecans, halved
1 pound wide noodles
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste

Pour half the butter into 12-cup mold or tube pan and swirl around bottom and up sides. Press brown sugar into bottom, then press pecans into sugar.

Cook noodles in boiling water according to package directions. Drain.

Mix noodles with eggs, remaining melted butter, cinnamon, granulated sugar and salt. Spoon into prepared mold.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/4 hours or until top is brown. Let stand 15 minutes before unmolding. Top will become slightly hard, like a praline. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Yields 10 to 12 servings.