2/3 cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
4 tsp. milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

The 1st secret to these sugar cookies is creaming the butter and sugar by hand and mixing all ingredients by hand, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The 2nd secret is having fresh baking powder. Soften butter by letting it sit out for 15 minutes.

In a mixing bowl add sugar and butter together, blend with hand just barely enough to combine sugar and butter, lumps of butter are OK. Add eggs, vanilla and milk, combine by hand til just mixed but not over mixed.

In a smaller bowl sift flour and baking powder, add to sugar mixture, combining until flour is mixed in. Refrigerate cookie dough overnight preferably, but 1 hour will do.

Roll and cut chilled dough into slices (about 3/8-inch thick). Put on ungreased cookie sheets about 2-inches apart. Bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges start to brown.

Submitted by: S. Judd