Honey Cookies

You have never had a cookie like this!! This is a recipe that has been a family treasure for years, my step-mom has makes them every holiday season. One year when i was little I remember not asking for presents but asking for Honey Cookies!! Yep - they are that Good!!

INGREDIENTS:
1/3 cup soft shortening

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

2/3 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

2 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:

Mix shortening, egg, sugar, honey and vanilla. In a seperate bowl blend flour, soda, salt and then slowly add into batter.

Chill dough - at least an hour if not overnight.

MAKING THE COOKIES:

Roll 1/4" inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Use your favorite cutters and cut out and place on cookie sheet. I usually keep half the dough in the fridge since the dough does get rather warm while working with it which usually means a sticky mess!

Bake at 375 for 6 minutes - adjust time for larger cookies :)

ICING:

I've always down sifted powdered sugar with butter..adding 1/4 tsp of milk (or cream) at a time, then flavoring with vanilla/almond or lemon extract! I don't really have measurements.. just start with very little liquid to your sugar and only add till you get the right consistency.

Now Martha Stewart recommends:

Makes 2 1/3 cups

• 1 box confectioners' sugar (1 pound)
• 5 tablespoons meringue powder, or 2 large egg whites

Directions

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine sugar and meringue powder. Mixing on low speed, add a scant 1/2 cup water. For a thinner consistency, usually used for flooding, add more water. A thicker consistency is generally used for outlining and adding details. Mix until icing holds a ribbonlike trail on the surface of the mixture for 5 seconds when you raise the paddle.

There is also this cool tutorial on some ways to decorate cut-out cookies:

http://www.bakegreek.com/how-to-ice-a-bakegreek-cookie/