Ginger Cream Cookies

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1-1/2 cups molasses

2 cups sifted flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda, dissolved in

1/2 cup hot water

Cream together shortening and sugar. Beat in egg and molasses. Sift together flour, salt, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon and stir into sugar-molasses mixture. Add baking soda dissolved in water.

8 to 10 minutes in a preheated 400-degree oven. After cookies cool, frost with vanilla frosting flavored with grated lemon rind.

Makes: 4 dozen cookies.