Best Sugar Cookie Recipe

If you aren't making your cookies from scratch, you are missing out.  This is an easy recipe and does not require refrigeration as many sugar cookie recipes do.  I think that's what deters a lot of people from making sugar cookies from scratch.  My mom got this recipe many years ago from a good friend, and we've been using it ever since (30 yrs or so). 
You will need:
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder. 
Mix shortening and sugar until creamy.  Then mix in each additional ingredient.  A stand mixer makes this part much easier if you have one.  Don't overmix or you'll end up with tough dough.  In a separate bowl mix together approximately 1 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of sugar.  This is to keep the dough from sticking when you roll it out.  Roll it out to approximately 1/4 inch thickness and cut.  Bake at 375 for about 7 minutes.  If you like your cookies soft, then take them out before the edges turn brown.  Decorate with icing or sugar.  The ones pictured were decorated by my daughter with royal icing and lots of colored sugar.  Enjoy!