Preheat oven to 350˚F.

Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; reserve.

Cream together butter, shortening, 1 cup granulated sugar, vanilla and egg. Incorporate flour mixture into creamed mixture; blend in up to 2 tablespoons milk if needed.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto un-greased baking sheets.

Put the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a small flat bowl or saucer. Dip the bottom of your patterned glass in some water, shake off the excess, dip the bottom of the glass into the sugar, and press out the balls of cookie dough. Dip in sugar for each cookie.

Bake for 12 minutes, or until beginning to brown around the edges.

Variation: For chocolate sugar cookies, substitute 1/2 cup of cocoa powder for 1/2 cup flour.