1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. buttermilk
7 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs. Dissolve soda in buttermilk. Add vanilla to egg mixture. Alternate adding flour (to which baking powder and salt has been added) with buttermilk and soda mixture. Makes a VERY thick dough. Roll out and cut with favorite cookie cutters. Bake on greased cookie sheet for 8 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Really good frosted with butter-type cake frosting (canned is good). Sugar may be sprinkled on unbaked cookies before baking if you like.

These cookies may be painted with egg yolk paint before baking if you like to decorate them (as at Christmas time). To make egg yolk paint, break a yolk into a cup and add 1 teaspoon water. Stir well. Put part of mixture into 2 other containers and add a few drops of food coloring (different colors - I use red, green and yellow, etc. at Christmas) and paint the yolk mixture onto unbaked cookies with a water color paint brush.

You an also put the frosting on after baking for very decorative cookies. These have been a family tradition in my family for over 40 years. Makes approximately 9 dozen cookies but they store very well in tin cans and are very good for mailing.