Stained Glass Cookies

3/4 cup shortening (part butter or margarine
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Cookie cutters of 2 sizes (the smaller cutters
    should be 1/4 to 1/2 inch smaller than the larger)
8 packages Lifesavers (red, green, butter rum and
    orange show up well)

Mix shortening, sugar, eggs and flavoring. Blend in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and chill at least one hour.

Roll dough 1/8 inch thick and cut out cookies with larger cutters. Place cookies on baking sheet that has been covered with foil. Then use small cutters to cut out a section from the cookie (small bell shape within larger bell, etc.).

Crush candy into small pieces and fill in cut-out areas, making sure there is enough crushed candy to spread into corners. (When first making this recipe, try just a few cookies first to find the right amount of crushed candy to use. Too much will bleed over onto dough.) Make hole in top of each cookie with plastic straw. Bake at 375 degrees F for 7 to 9 minutes or until dough is light brown and candy has melted. (If candy does not completely cover center of cookie, spread candy out quickly while still soft with a metal spatula.) Cool completely on baking sheet and remove gently. String with ribbon for hanging. Makes about 70 cookies.

When hanging on Christmas tree, place cookie in front of lights for a stained-glass effect. Different colored candies can be mixed together or only one color used for different effects. Cookies also look festive on dowel tree for kitchen decoration. Heart-shaped cookies make cute Valentines.