Spice Cookies I

Ingredients

• ½ cup molasses
• 2 cups flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon soda
• 1½ tablespoons butter
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1½ tablespoons lard
• ½ teaspoon clove
• 1 tablespoon milk
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

1. Heat molasses to boiling-point.
2. Add sugar, shortening, and milk.
3. Mix and sift dry ingredients, and add to first mixture.
4. Chill thoroughly.
5. Toss one-fourth of mixture on a floured board and roll as thinly as possible; shape with a small round cutter, first dipped in flour.
6. Place near together on a buttered sheet and bake in a moderate oven.
7. Gather up the trimmings and roll with another portion of dough.
8. During rolling, the bowl containing mixture should be kept in a cool place, or it will be necessary to add more flour to dough, which makes cookies hard rather than crisp and short.