Instructions: Beat shortening, butter and sugars until well mixed; beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to egg
mixture and stir to combine until soft dough forms.

Divide dough into 6 equal portions; shape into rolls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, wrap each in plastic wrap or foil and freeze.

Or, if you prefer, flavor the different portions as directed below.

To bake, slice solidly frozen rolls about 1/4-inch thick; arrange cookies 2-inches apart on ungreased cookies sheets and bake in 350 degrees oven for 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Transfer at once to wire rack to cool.

Variations

Coconut Cookies: Mix 1/2 cup flaked or toasted coconut into one sixth of master recipe dough. Shape and freeze.

Slice and bake as directed.

Makes 30 cookies.

Nutty Cookies: Mix 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans, walnuts or peanuts into one sixth of master recipe dough. Shape and freeze.

Spicy Cookies: Mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg or mace or 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice into one sixth of the master recipe dough. Shape and freeze.

Chocolate Cookies: Mix 1 square melted and cooled unsweetened chocolate into one sixth of the master Shape and freeze.

Cherry Cookies: Mix 1/4 cup finely chopped candied cherries (both red and green are nice for Christmas)

in one sixth of the master dough.

Shape and freeze.

Butterscotch or Maple Cookies: Mix 1/2
teaspoon of butterscotch or maple flavoring into one sixth of the master recipe dough. Shape and freeze.

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