Black and white cookies in the shape of Patrick Star (100th post!)

What You Will Need

• 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter softened
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 1 package (3 oz.) of cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
• 3 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp of shortening

Directions

1. Combine butter, sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla in a large bowl. beat with electric mixer at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until light and fluffy. add flour, beat until well mixed. divide dough in half, wrap each half in waxed paper. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. 
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness or lightly floured surface. Cut dough with lightly floured star-shaped cookie cutters. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on un-greased cookie sheets. 
3. Bake for 7-10 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. remove immediately to wire racks to cool completely
4. Melt chocolate chips and shortening in small saucepan over very low heat 4-6 minutes or until melted. dip half of each star into melted chocolate. Dip the bottom half of the star to make Patrick's board shorts. Take a toothpick and dip it in the melted chocolate to make 1 drop onto the top half of the start to make Patrick's eyes. Use toothpick to add other small details to the cookie if you wish. Refrigerate the cookie sheets lined with wax paper until chocolate is hardened. Store, covered in wrap in the fridge. 

Makes about 3 1/2 cookies