My Only Recipe Book

Ingridients

1 cup shortening (margarine or Crisco according to the original recipe, but butter is divine and they'll just turn out bit flatter)
2 cups sugar, with extra for "rolling"
2 eggs
1/2 cup mild, unsulphured molasses (I use Grandma's)
4 cups unsifted flour
3 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
A teaberry for each cookie (optional)

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream shortening and 2 cups sugar. Add the eggs and beat until fluffy. Mix in the molasses. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add to shortening mixture and beat until smooth.

Roll into small, walnut-sized balls. Roll in a shallow dish of the extra granulated sugar until coated and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Put a teaberry in the center of each ball. Press slightly so it won't roll off. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 -15 minutes. (Don't overbake - they should be chewy in the center.)

Makes 7 dozen cookies.