| 1 | Grease several baking sheets and set aside. |
| 2 | With a mixer at medium speed, beat the butter in a large mixer bowl until light and fluffy. |
| 3 | Beat in the sugar until well blended and smooth. |
| 4 | Beat in the egg and lemon peel. |
| 5 | With the mixer at low speed, beat in the flour just until evenly incorporated. |
| 6 | Divide the dough in half. |
| 7 | Place each portion between large sheets of waxed paper. |
| 8 | Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to a scant ?inch thick. |
| 9 | Check the undersides and smooth out any wrinkles in the waxed paper. |
| 10 | Stack the rolled portions on a tray or baking sheet. |
| 11 | Refrigerate for about 20 minutes or until cold and firm, but not hard. |
| 12 | Heat the oven to 375°F. |
| 13 | Working with one chilled portion of dough at a time (keep the other one chilled), peel away a layer of waxed paper. |
| 14 | (this makes it easier to lift the cookies from the paper later). |
| 15 | Replace the paper and turn the dough over. |
| 16 | Peel of the second layer of paper. |
| 17 | Using a 2-inch round or scalloped cutter (or a small juice of sherry glass) cut out the cookies. |
| 18 | Use a spatula to carefully lift the cookies from the paper and place them about 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. |
| 19 | Reroll the dough scraps between waxed paper; rechill in the refrigerator. |
| 20 | Repeat the process with the second portion of dough. |
| 21 | Working with a few cookies at a time, brush the tops with the egg yolk-water mixture using a pastry brush or paper towel. |
| 22 | Sprinkle the tops lightly with granulated sugar. |
| 23 | Repeat until all of the cookies are garnished. |
| 24 | Bake the cookies for 6 to 9 minutes or until the top is just tinged with brown and slightly darker at the edges. |
| 25 | Let cool on the baking sheets for about 2 minutes. |
| 26 | Transfer to wire racks and let stand until thoroughly cool. |
| 27 | Store airtight for up to a week. |
| 28 | Freeze for longer storage. |
| 29 | Makes 50 to 60 cookies. |
| 30 | [the baltimore sun; november 25, 1990] |
