2 c. sugar
1 c. molasses
1 c. Crisco
2 eggs

Mix well by hand and add:

2 tsp. baking soda
4 c. flour
2 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix all together (by hand - not mixer). Roll into balls the size of a small walnut, then roll into red and green colored sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for about 9 minutes. The cookies will look not quite done, but not baking them until hard makes them chewy. The cookies will sink down and have cracks in them.