MERRY CHRISTMAS COOKIES
Christmas would hardly seem like Christmas without fancifully shaped and decorated cookies. Decorated cookies are thought to have originaged in pre-Christian times as offerings to various gods. You and your children will love these cookies. The honey in this recipe makes these cookies melt in your mouth.

1/3 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon lemon extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, cream vegetable shortening, sugar, egg, honey, and lemon extract until light and fluffy. Sift in flour, baking soda, and salt; stir until well blended. Refrigerate dough at least 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets. On a lightly floured board, roll dough to 1/4-inch thick; cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart onto prepared cookie sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks. When cool, frost with Milk-Frosting and decorate as desireds.

Yields 5 dozen cookies.

MILK FROSTING
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons milk

In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, lemon extract, and enought milk to make frosting easy to spread. Tint, if desired, with a few drops of food coloring.