LEMON COOKIES

3 cups flour1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup butter or margarine

1 ½ cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon lemon extract

Preheat oven to 375 F. In large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. In medium saucepan, melt butter over moderate heat. Stir in sugar and remove from heat. Let cool about 15 minutes before adding eggs and lemon extract. Beat well. Stir in flour mixture gradually, beating constantly. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1-to-2 hours.

When ready to bake, divide dough in half. On floured board or pastry cloth, roll each piece of dough to about 1/8-inch thick. Cut with your choice of cookie cutters and place 2-inches apart on cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Makes about 9-dozen cookies. — Helen

DEAR MELBA: Here are a couple of notes for your Sept. 12 column if you have room. At 6 p.m., Thursday, I will be signing “1905 Cooking” and giving away quilts in exchange for donations to Novo Ministries at the Oklahoma History Center.

From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 15 and 17, I plan to have a booth at the State Fair in the Hobby Arts and Crafts Building. Peppers Ranch Foster Care Community will be giving a continuous Bed Turning Demonstration and giving away quilts in exchange for donations to build new forever loving homes for orphans.