Fearless Females - Favorite Recipe

March 7 — Share a favorite recipe from your mother or grandmother’s kitchen. Why is this dish your favorite? If you don’t have one that’s been passed down, describe a favorite holiday or other meal you shared with your family.

This is my Mom's recipe, but I'm not sure where she got it from. We had lots of fun rolling out the dough and decorating these sugar cookies every year at Christmas time. These were a special treat that we only had once a year!


Cookie Jar Sugar Cookies

2/3 cup shortening (Crisco)
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp grated orange peel
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 tsp milk

Thoroughly cream shortening and sugar. Add egg, beat in until light and fluffy. 
Add vanilla, grated peel, mix thoroughly. Sift dry ingredients together and stir into creamed mixture alternately with 1 tsp of milk at a time.
Divide dough in half. Chill at least one hour. (We usually left it overnight.) Keep 1/2 chilled while rolling other half.
Roll 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters or glass.
Put on greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle lightly with sugar. Bake in moderate over (375) for about 10 minutes. 
Makes 2 1/2 dozen.

Frosting
Mix confectioners powdered sugar, 2 tsps vanilla, 1/2 stick margarine and hot water until desired thickness and frost.

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Once again, in honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.