Cookies for the 4th

I don't bake.....well....not much. It's not really a guy thing but the main reason is I'm not very good at it. (Now ask me to make a porcini sauce with a Marsalla reduction for veal like I did last night and your on).

 I made french bread once that alternated from perfect to something with the consistency of rebar. I make cheese straws from time to time that are never as good as everybody else's.

But Karen has a few traditional items she bakes at holidays and these 4th of July cookies are one she and her buddy Bitsey have been doing for years

It takes a little time but it is worth it.:

Watermelon Cookies

2/3 cups butter softened(5 1/2 Tbsp)

2/3 cups shortening, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 Tbsp milk

2 tsp vanilla

4 cups plain flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Red paste food coloring

2/3 cup semi sweet mini morsels

3 cups powdered sugar

4 Tbsp water

Green paste food coloring

Beat butter and shortening in a large bowl until it is blended well. Gradually add sugar - mix well. Stir in eggs, milk and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and slowly add to the other mixture. Add red paste and mix well. Put in a smaller bow, cover, chill well (at least three hour or overnight). On floured wax paper, roll out a portion of the dough to 1/4 thickness. Cut with round cookie cutter, then cut in half. Put on ungreased cookie sheet, put chocolate chips in the middle as "seeds". Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Do not brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Combine green paste, water and powdered sugar. Dip rounded edge of cookie in this mixture and let dry on wax paper. Store with wax paper between layers. This will freeze well. (Makes approximately 110 cookies).