1 c. butter
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. molasses (light or dark)
2 eggs
1 c. sour milk
2 tsp. baking soda
5 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1 c. raisins (optional)

350 degree oven. Grease cookie sheets. Cream butter and sugar. Stir in molasses. Beat egg and add to molasses mixture. Combine soup milk and baking soda in 2 cups glass measuring cup. it foams and bubbles up. Pour foamy sour milk into molasses mixture and stir slowly until flour disappears. Add raisins. Drop onto cookie sheet by tablespoon. Cookies stay in mound while they bake so you may place them close together. Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Makes 48 soft cookies.

If you do not have sour milk. Put 3 teaspoon of cider vinegar into a glass measuring cup. Pour enough fresh milk to make 1 cup. Let set for 10 minutes.