A very old recipe. The small nut-shaped cookies are spicy and very good. These may be baked early for, like good wine, they improve with age.

1 c. lard
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. molasses

Put above ingredients in a saucepan and bring to boiling point over a low flame. Then add:

1 tsp. baking soda in 1/2 c. warm water
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Add flour enough to make a stiff dough. Let stand a day or two, then pull out long thin fingers, cut off inch lengths and bake.