What is vegetable shortening? and can I do without it?

[2pt4kids]

Just made some cookies and it wanted vegetable shortening as an ingredient.
I looked in shops and also searched for it on Sainsburys online and found nothing, so have just made them without it!
What is it and will my cookies be ok???

It's called "Trex" and is the vegetable equivalent of lard

they might be a bit dry

next time substitute butter / marg / any solid fat

Is it the same as vegetable suet? You can get that anywhere.

Shortening is lard/suet like you use in pastry. @You can get vegetarian suet which is probably what they're on about

Thank you. That does make sense - they do seem to be a bit dry!!
Will know for next time!

suet usually = lard rolled in flour though, so better off getting the plain fat. You can use margarine instead of veg lard, or even oil.

apart from Trex the other brands are Cookeen and 'Flora White'