Super Sugar Cookies!

I had a request for the sugar cookie recipe I use, so here it is. This recipe makes soft, delicious cookies. They taste like the kind you buy in the bakery dept. One tip, make sure you don't roll the dough out too thin, or they'll be more crispy. We like them thick and soft!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened (or you can use butter flavor Crisco, which also works great. Just add 6 tblspns. water for every 1 cup Crisco, if you do the substitution.)
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Directions:
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely before frosting.
Here's the frosting recipe I use. Just divide up the batch into small bowls and add food coloring, if you desire.
Ingredients:
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup shortening
5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
food coloring
Directions:
In a large bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and shortening until smooth. Gradually mix in the milk and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and stiff, about 5 minutes. If frosting is too thick, add more milk to desired consistency.