1/4 cup soft shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
1 tsp. baking soda dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix together thoroughly the shortening, sugar, egg, molasses. Stir in the soda dissolved in water. Sift together the flour, salt, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Stir into egg mixture. Blend well. Chill dough thoroughly. Heat oven to 400°F, drop by rounded teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet.

Bake 5 to 6 minutes.

Makes 6 dozen or 3 dozen large cookies.