375 ° F / 10-12 minutes

1. Cream butter and sugar; add egg, vanilla, salt, cream tartar, and baking soda. Mix well.

2. Add flour. Refrigerate for 1/2 hour or more. Shape in small balls, roll in granulated sugar, and place on greased cooky sheet.

3. Press balls flat, using the bottom of a smooth glass or jar. Rub bottom of glass or jar with shortening; then dip in sugar and press cookies gently.

4. These cookies spread, so don't put them too close together on the cooky sheet. Bake.

5. For further flavor variation and 1/2 cup of chocolate morsels to 1/4 of a single recipe.

addition of chopped nuts or of cocoa for chocolate-flavored cookies. I usually make a double batch, take out half the dough, and then add cocoa to the other half, making 2 different kinds of cookies at one time." (Charlotte Erickson, author)