Butter Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg
2 3/4cups flour

Preheat over to 400

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add baking powder and
flour, one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. The dough will be very stiff; blend last flour by hand. Do not chill dough. Note: Dough can be tinted with icing color. Add small amounts until desired color is reached. For chocolate cookies: Stir in 3 ounces of melted, unsweetened chocolate. If dough becomes too stiff, add water, a teaspoon at a time.

Divide dough into 2 balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a circle approximately 12 inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Dip cutters in flour before each use. Bake cookies on top rack of oven for 6-7 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.