Gramma Kath’s Sugar and Spice Cookies

Cream together:  ¾ cup shortening, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, ¼  cup molasses

Sift and add:  2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt , 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¾ teaspoon each of ground ginger and cloves

Mix well.  You may cover the dough tightly and refrigerate at this point, until you have time to bake.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Use ungreased cookie sheets.  Roll dough into balls “the size of small walnuts”, about ¾ inch in diameter.  Roll each ball in granulated sugar and place on baking sheet.  Allow room to spread.  Flatten balls with the bottom of a glass dipped in granulated sugar.

Set timer for 4-5 minutes. Bake cookies at 375 degrees until timer goes off.  Turn cookie sheet around and give it a sharp bang or two as you do so.  The cookies, which will have risen softly during this first baking will fall flat.  Continue to bake for another 4 minutes. Remove from oven, cool slightly (1 minute) and then remove from sheet to cool on racks.  Makes 5-6 dozen thin cookies.