Chanukah Star Cookies

TO MAKE THE COOKIES: With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Beat in the egg. Add the vanilla extract and mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Add to the creamed mixture and stir until smooth. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Divide the dough into 2 or 3 portions. On a generously floured board, roll out each portion 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes using flour-dipped 3-inch cookie cutters and place cookies on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool on a rack.

TO MAKE THE ICING: Blend the sugar, lemon juice, and water in a bowl. Add more water if needed to thin icing. Divide the icing in half. Add the blue food coloring to one half and mix until the color is uniform. With a small spatula, spread the blue icing evenly over the cooled cookies. Place the white icing on a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe designs as desired.