Sugar Cookies

For those of you who can't make it through the Valentine's Day holiday without sugar cookies, this one's for you. It's a good recipe, and that's coming from me, the one person who could probably make it through any holiday without them! Not because I don't love 'em, I absolutely hate making them. Enjoy, martyrs!

Sugar Cookies

4 ½ cups sifted flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup butter
½ cup vegetable shortening
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
½ cup milk
½ teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture one cup at a time alternating will milk and vanilla. Beat well after each addition. Wrap dough in wax paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Divide dough into four portions. Roll out one portion at a time on a lightly floured surface, to about ¼ inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Bake for 6-8 minutes. Do not over bake.

Cream Cheese Frosting

2 lbs. confectioner’s sugar
½ cup butter, softened
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
½ cup shortening
2 teaspoons vanilla
Food coloring

In large mixing bowl, cream together sugar, butter, cream cheese, and shortening. Add milk to right consistency. Stir in vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 10 minutes. Add food coloring as desired.