Recipe for "xmas-stars"

NAME

     XMAS-STARS - Frosted cookie-cutter cookies
     My mom got this recipe many years ago  in  a  cookbook  that
     came in installments, so it didn't have a name on the binder
     and I don't know what it was called. She had us  (the  kids)
     make these cookies every year.

INGREDIENTS (2-4 dozen)

          COOKIES
     220 g     solid shortening (not butter)
     125 g     granulated sugar
     2         eggs
     5 ml      salt
     5 ml      vanilla
     5 ml      almond flavoring
     275 g     flour
          FROSTING
     200 g     powdered sugar
     30 ml     cream or milk
     7.5 ml    vanilla (not Mexican, unless you like  tan  frost-
               ing)
               food coloring

PROCEDURE

          (1)  Cream together the shortening and sugar.  Beat  in
               the eggs, salt, and flavorings.
          (2)  Stir in the flour until blended.
          (3)  Chill in the refrigerator for an hour or two.
          (4)  Preheat oven to 190 deg. C.
          (5)  Roll out on a floured surface to a thickness of  3
               to  6  mm.   Cut  with  the cookie cutters of your
               choice (this was always a cause  for  argument  in
               our family).
          (6)  Bake on ungreased cookie sheets until  tan  around
               the edges-about 8-10 minutes.
          (7)  Allow to cool.
          (8)  Make the frosting by beating together  the  sugar,
               milk,  and  vanilla until smooth. Divide and color
               each portion.
          (9)  Frost the cookies.

NOTES

     These cookies are about the only  ones  I  know  that  taste
     better cooked and cold than as raw dough.
     Cinnamon red hots make good eyes for animals or Santas.

RATING

     Difficulty: easy to moderate.  Time: 15 minutes preparation,
     2 hours chilling, 15 minutes rolling and baking.  Precision:
     measure the ingredients.

CONTRIBUTOR

     Kate Hedstr"m
     UC San Diego, San Diego, Calif., USA
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