Grandma's Sugar Cookie recipe

Here is my Grandmother's sugar cookie recipe, suitable for almost any occasion, and great to do with children or friends:

GRANDMA TRESS' SUGAR COOKIES AND NEVER-FAIL FROSTING


Sugar Cookies
3/4 cup shortening (part butter or margarine, softened)
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla (or 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract)
2-1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Mix shortening, sugar, eggs, and flavoring. Blend in flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill at least one hour.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll dough on floured surface with floured rolling pin and sock. Cut into festive shapes. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake only 6-8 minutes, or until very light brown.

Makes 5-6 dozen 2" cookies.

Buttercream Frosting
1- 16 oz. package confectioners' sugar
6 Tablespoons softened butter or margarine
3-4 Tablespoons milk or half-and-half
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

In large bowl, with mixer at medium, beat all ingredients until very smooth. Add more milk if necessary to make good spreading consistency. Add food coloring to small amounts of frosting for decorations.

Variations: orange frosting: use 2 egg yolks, 1 teaspoon grated orange peel and only 2 Tablespoons of milk; chocolate frosting: increase butter to 1/2 cup, melt then cool 3 squares unsweetened chocolate then add with 2 egg yolks to rest of mixture.

Makes enough for 5-6 dozen 2" cookies.

from Theresa Vandenberg LaVaque (Theresa's grandmother)