Sugar cookies

I seem to be whining about winter all the time. Why wouldn't I? I hate wearing woollies, socks and gloves even when I'm at home, but chill winter days call for it. Having had snow and rain resulting in ice, my hubby even had his car skid 180 degrees on the highway. But, thank goodness! He was safe.

The rains, snow and winds continue and enduring all this bad weather makes me grumble, grumble, grumble.
With all this wet, dreary weather, what one desperately needs is a dose of comfort food. Although stews and soups are probably the perfect remedy, all I wanted was an excuse to stand near my hot oven even though my heater worked incessantly to raise the temperature at home. I ended up making sugar cookies. Just one piece was enough to lift my spirits and satiate me but it was otherwise for hubby dear ..............he devoured a dozen.

Ingredients:( makes 30-35 cookies)

• All-purpose white flour - 3 cups
• Baking powder - 3/4 tspn
• Salt - 1/2 tspn
• Butter - 1 cup( 2 sticks)
• Sugar - 1 cup( plus more to sprinkle on top)
• Egg - 1 large
• Milk - 1 tbspn
• Vanilla extract - 2-1/2 tspns

Directions:

• In a bowl stir together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
• In another mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar till creamy.
• Add egg, milk and vanilla and beat well.
• Add the flour mixture to make a smooth and slightly stiff dough.( If it is too soft, add upto 3 tbspns more of flour)
• Let dough stand for about 5 mins
• Divide dough into 2 and place each portion between 2 sheets of wax paper. Roll out each portion of the dough till about 1/4 thick. (wax paper prevents the dough from sticking while rolling out. If you don't want to use wax paper, roll out on a floured surface)
• Now, place each portion of the rolled dough along with the wax paper on 2 baking sheets and freeze for 25 mins.( or refrigerate for 45 mins)
• Preheat oven to 375 F( 191 C)
• Grease a baking sheet.
• Take one portion of the chilled dough, remove wax paper and use 3-inch cookie cutters to cut the cookie and place the cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet.
• Bake for for 8-10 mins.
• Take the tray from the oven and sprinkle some sugar on the cookies. Bake for 1 more minute.
• As soon as they come out from the oven, let the cookies rest for 2-3 mins on the cookie sheet.
• Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Store in airtight containers.
• Repeat the same process with the remaining dough.

Luv 'n' luc'
Smitha