With all the snow the Midwest has gotten and our close proximity to Christmas, I thought I'd share my sugar cookie recipie. To be fair, it's Betty Crocker's, but she told me it was okay to borrow.

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 c. butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1 egg

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

Beat powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, almond extract, and egg in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Cover and refridgerate at least 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets. Divide dough in half. Roll each half 1/4 in. thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes with 2 1/2 in. cookie cutters. Place about 2 in. apart on a cookie sheet. Bake 7-8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack, cool completely.

I normally just frost them. (One year I actually handpainted them with a glaze and some food colored water. Beautiful but never again.) Martha Stewart, infinate domestic goddess that she is has a fun and slightly less time consuming method. Hold a stencil over the cookie, lightly glaze it with some watered down frosting, then sprinkle it with powdered sugar or cocoa powder.

I use this recepie. It's super easy and you can make the frosting into whatever consistancy you want.

1 c. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 tbsp. water or 1-2 tbsp. milk

Few drops of food color, if desired.

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl with a spoon until smooth and spreadable.

Happy decorating!