FANCY GINGERBREAD CUT OUT COOKES

FANCY GINGERBREAD CUT OUT CHRISTMAS COOKIES

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup molasses

2 tbsp white vinegar

4 1/2 cps all purpose flour

2 tsp ginger

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp salt

in small bowl cream shortening and sugar till fluffy

add egg molasses and vinegar

combine dry ingredients add to creamed mixture.

cover and refrigerate over 3 hours or overnight

once on a lightly floured surface roll out dough to 1/2 inch thickness and cut into desired shapes

place on sheet 1-2 inches apart depending on size of cookie and bake at 35 7-9 minutes

remove to wire racks to cool

Icing

4 cups confectionary sugar

2 tbsp meringue powder

1/2 cup warm water

assorted colors of liquid food coloring

beat on low speed till blended. beat on high speed 5-6 minutes  till soft peaks form.

put damp paper towel over bowl and cover till ready to use.

cut small hole in corner of pastry or plastic bag. insert round tip 2 3 or #4 and fill bag with about 1 cup of icing. outline each cookie with icng tint remaining icing with food coloring if desired add water a few drops at a time till mixture is thin enough to flow evenly and smoothly. Prepare the additional pastry bags with thinned icing fill in cookies and let cookies dry at room temp overnight. With food coloring and small paint brush paint designs on dry icing. store cookies in air tight containers..