GOURMET'S VANILLA BEAN COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream together the butter, chilled shortening, and 3/4 cup of the sugar until light and fluffy.
• With a sharp knife halve vanilla beans lengthwise, then scrape the seeds directly into the butter mixture, mixing to combine.
• Beat in egg and vanilla extract until combined well.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture and mix until just combined.
• Set a large sheet of waxed paper on a flat surface.
• Set dough onto the waxed paper and form dough into a 10x2" log.
• Roll up dough log in wax paper, seal ends with rubber bands, and chill until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 3 days (stick wrapped log into a plastic ziptop baggie to keep from drying out).
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Pour remaining 1/4 cup sugar onto a shallow platter.
• Remove wax paper and roll dough log in sugar (not all sugar will stick).
• Cut dough into rounds,1/4" thick.
• Dip the cut sides of each cookie round into the remaining sugar on platter (add a little extra sugar if you need more).
• Arrange cookies 1/2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets and bake one batch at a time in the middle of your oven 10-12 minutes, or until edges are a very pale golden brown.
• Remove baked cookies to wire racks to cool.