Orange Cookies
Contributed by Diane S.

Gina Buckley O'Toole, Ellicott City

"These butter-colored cookies' citrus flavor evokes Florida sunshine on
gray-blanket winter days. After a heavy holiday meal, these airy cookies
are the only thing over-stuffed celebrants at family meals would agree to."

Makes about 4 dozen

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon orange zest
3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Icing (see recipe, below)

Cream butter, add sugar and eggs, and blend well. Stir together salt and
flour in a small bowl. Stir orange zest into orange juice. Mix juice and
flour mixture alternately into butter mixture. Add baking soda with last
bit of flour. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon-sized plops of batter, 2 inches apart,
onto greased cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes in preheated 400 degree oven
until barely browned at edges and just firm enough to handle. Cool on
racks, then transfer to wax paper to be iced.

ICING
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons (heaping) orange zest

Melt butter over medium heat until golden. Remove from heat and stir in
sugar, juice and zest. Smooth 1/2 teaspoonful icing onto each cookie with
the back of a teaspoon. Icing will set in about 15 minutes. (You may wish
to sprinkle with decorative candies while the icing is still "wet," if
desired.)