COOKIES
   1/2 c  Sugar
     6 tb Unsalted butter; room
          -temperature
          ; (3/4 stick)
     2 ts Vanilla extract
     1 ts Grated lemon peel
     3 lg Eggs
     2 c  All purpose flour
     2 ts Baking powder
-ICING-
     1 tb Butter
     3 c  Powdered sugar; sifted
     2 tb Water; (or more)
     2 tb Lemon juice
     1 ts Vanilla extract
 FOR COOKIES: Preheat oven to 350F. Line 2 baking sheets with foil. Using
 electric mixer, beat sugar, unsalted butter, vanilla extract and grated
 lemon peel in large bowl until blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well
 after each addition (mixture may appear curdled). Continue beating 1
 minute. Combine flour and baking powder in small bowl. Add to butter
 mixture and stir to form soft sticky dough.
 Spoon dough into pastry bag fitted with 3/8-inch-wide round tip. Pipe
 2-inch-diameter rings onto prepared sheets, spacing apart. Using fingertips
 dipped into water, press ends of each ring together into smooth ring. Bake
 until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare icing.
 FOR ICING: Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat. Add sugar, 2
 tablespoons water, lemon juice and vanilla extract and whisk until sugar
 melts and mixture is heated through. Thin with more water if icing is too
 thick to brush.
 Remove cookies from oven. Immediately brush warm icing over hot cookies.
 Cool iced cookies on sheets 2 minutes. Transfer on rack and cool
 completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container.)
Makes About 3 Dozen.
                 
                 Yields       
                1 servings                
