Christmas Cookies

Cream the butter and shortening with the sugar, then beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder, then stir them into the creamed mixture to make a soft dough. Chill thoroughly.

Work with only a small amount of the cold dough at a time. Use lots of flour to roll dough. (You can use a combination of flour and confectioners’ sugar instead of plain flour. This gives the cookies a sweeter taste.) Roll about 1/8 inch thick, cut out cookie shapes, and use a metal spatula to transfer them to a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F for 7 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.

These cookies can be decorated a variety of ways. Sometimes I frost them after they are cool. Other times I use colored sugar sprinkled on them before baking. Most times, though, I use a mixture of egg yolks, a little water, and some food coloring and “paint” them before baking.