MIXTURE NO. 1:

2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. baking powder

MIXTURE NO. 2:

1 c. brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 c. boiling water
1 tsp. baking soda

Set aside 1 cup of Mixture No. 1 for later use. Mix the rest of No. 1 with No. 2 and put into muffin pans, about half full. Sprinkle some of the crumb mixture over each cupcake. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. 2 dozen.