1 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
2 eggs
1/2 c. molasses
3 1/2 c. sifted Martha White Plain Flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
Ornamental Icing, candied fruit and colored sugar for decoration

Mix together sugar, shortening, butter, eggs and molasses. Sift together dry ingredients and stir into sugar mixture. Cover and chill several hours or overnight.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. On lightly floured board or pastry cloth, roll out a small amount of dough about 1/8 inch thick. (Keep remaining dough refrigerated.) Cut with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 6 to 8 minutes. Cool and decorate, if desired. Makes 8-9 dozen cookies.