Coloring-Book Sugar Cookies
Makes 4 dozen
(Seventh graders invite older or younger guests to help paint the cookies. Several "works of art" may be selected and displayed. Others may be eaten or donated.)

Ingredients:
½ cup shortening
¼ cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 gallon-sized food storage bag
Cooking spray
Food coloring

Day 1 - Prepare cookie dough
1. In large mixing bowl at medium speed on the electric mixer, beat together the shortening, butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until thoroughly blended.
2. In separate medium-sized bowl, measure the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir together with a wire whisk until well combined.
3. Add the flour mixture to the shortening mixture. Beat on low speed until well-blended. 4. Evenly coat the inside of the food storage bag with the cooking spray. Place the dough in the bag and squeeze out the air. Close the bag with a twist tie. Refrigerate overnight.

Day 2 - Bake the cookies
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. With your hands, roll the dough into balls about the size of walnuts. Place the balls evenly spaced apart on ungreased baking sheets. With a floured cookie stamp or drinking glass, flatten the cookies to 1/8 inch.
3. Bake until lightly browned and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Watch closely so cookies do not over brown.
4. Remove from sheets. Cool on a rack.

Nutrition information:
One of 48 cookies (0.5 oz. each) provides:
72 calories; 3 g total fat (1.2 g saturated fat); 12 mg cholesterol; 52 mg sodium; 7 mg potassium; 9 g carbohydrate (4 g sugar); 1 g protein; and 0.2 g dietary fiber

Day 3 - Begin the art
1. Use half the cookies.
2. Put ½ teaspoon water in 6 cups of a muffin tin. Add 2 drops of a different color food coloring to each cup. Stir each color with a different toothpick. For fun, make your own colors. For example, use 1 drop red and 1 drop blue to make purple or use 1 drop yellow and 1 drop red to make orange.
3. Paint designs on cookies using a different paintbrush for each color.

Day 4 - Continue the art with guests
1. Invite a younger class or preschool students to paint cookies as your guests.
2. Paint the rest of the cookies to donate.
3. Recognize several works of art. Display them in the school, local library, or business to promote The Kindness Company.
4. Package and deliver or freeze the remaining cookies.

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