A Mother's Day Treat

I decided last minute to bake some cookies for my Mom, since we were going over today to visit with her. I had about two hours to decide what to make, mix up the dough, and bake them. I decided on these really simple sugar cookies, which I frosted with a simple, but delicious frosting. Mom absolutely loved them - as did everyone else in the house! Needless to say, they didn't last long!

Moist Sugar Cookies
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy; add the rest of the ingredients in the order listed. Beat until well blended. Keeping the drops small, drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Dip the bottom of a glass in granulated sugar, and press cookies slightly. Bake at 350 for 7 minutes. Do not over-bake (don't under-bake either; the cookies are done when they turn lightly golden around the edges). Cool on wire racks.


Decorator Frosting

2/3 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract(optional)
4 drops red food coloring

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, confectioners' sugar, and milk until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and food coloring. Spread on or between cookies.