1/2 c. Crisco, softened
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. molasses
3 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cloves, ground
1/3 c. water

Cream Crisco and sugar and then beat in molasses; blend all dry ingredients in bowl. Alternately add dry ingredients and water to sugar mixture. Dough will become stiff, so mix by hand, work until smooth. Lightly oil back of large cookie sheet. Press, then roll to 1/4" thickness. Cut out shapes for walls, sides and roof top of house. (It helps if you make a pattern from posterboard first and you can lay the pattern on the dough and cut around it.) Remove excess dough from cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Let harden on counter. Icing recipe follows.