Instructions: To make cookies: Beat butter,
shortening and sugar until light. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Beat dry ingredients into moist a little at a time. Chill for 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Using a little dough at a time, roll out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with floured cutters and bake 8 to 10 minutes on lightly greased cookie sheets.

Let cool.

To make frosting to spread: Mix sugar with vanilla, water and your choice of food colorings. For intense color, use paste coloring. Frost cooled cookies.

To make frosting to pipe: Mix sugar with vanilla, water and butter. Color as desired. Pipe onto cookies for accent colors.

Yield: About 3 dozen, depending on cutter size. By Tina Danze.

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