Chewy Sugar Cookies

Yesterday Peter and I were walking around Denver in flip-flops and short sleeves. Today it started raining mid-morning and now it's snowing. I got the urge to bake chocolate chips cookies but unfortunately, I had everything except the chocolate chips. Peter offered to run to the store, he must have REALLY wanted chocolate chip cookies, but I found this amazing sugar cookie recipe instead. I think he was a little disappointed but when he saw these come out of the oven he felt better!

Chewy Sugar Cookies

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups margarine

2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 cup white sugar for decoration

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until just blended. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets and flatten slightly.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned at the edges. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.