Liz makes New Mexican sugar cookies

Hi everyone! A couple of days ago, my boyfriend and I bought these sweet cookie cutters: one shaped like the state of New Mexico and the other shaped like saguaro cactus (which doesn't really grow in New Mexico, fyi). Here's a recipe my mom gave me. It worked really well, as in the cookies didn't expand much when baked.

First, let's take a look at these wicked awesome cookie cutters we found in Old Town here in Albuquerque the other day. Aren't they amazing? Okay, let's move on.

You'll need:

4 tsp milk
2/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Mix the milk, shortening, sugar, egg and vanilla in one bowl. Mix the rest of the ingredients in another bowl. Add the two bowls together. You might need more flour or milk depending on your elevation, etc. Roll out on the table with a rolling pin (about 1/4" thick) and start cutting your cookies.

Place the cookies on a greased cookie sheet and bake them for 8-10 minutes. 

To make frosting, you'll need some powdered sugar, some water and some food coloring. I never measure exactly what the sugar to water ratio is, I just add both in until I get a good frosting consistency. Then I add the food coloring.

Frost your cookies and then eat them up because they're delicious.

Have yourself some happy holidays! 

Coming soon: mine and Tyler's Christmas card!

-L