Sugar Cookies (and frosting)

2 cups sugar 

1 cup shortening 

1 cup sour cream 

3 eggs 

1/2 teaspoon almond extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla 

5 cups flour 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream sugar and shortning. Add sour cream, eggs, and almond/vanilla. Mix well.In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt.Add to creamed mixture until well blended. Remember, the more you mix, the tougher your dough will be.Chill for a few hours (at least 3-4). The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.Roll out (I use a floured pastry cloth), and cut with a cookie cutter. Flour cutter between each cookie to prevent sticking.Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Cookies shouldn't be brown, just done to the touch.

 FROSTING- See ingredients below.
2 lbs. powdered sugar

1 cup shortening

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon almond extract.
Just mix ingredients until smooth.

*My mother-in-law found this really awesome recipe for sugar cookies and frosting. I had a hard time not eating them! Also, we've found if you double the cookie recipe, you do not have to double the frosting recipe. It makes just enough.