Ingredients
3/4 cup soft shortening
1 cup brown sugar, well packed
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2-1/4 cups flour, sifted
2 tbsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger

Directions
Mix shortening, brown sugar, egg and molasses together thoroughly. Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cloves, cinnamon and ginger together. Gradually add and stir into the molasses mixture. Chill dough. Roll into balls the size of walnuts. Dip tops in sugar. Place sugar side up 3-inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle each cookie with 2-3 drops of water to produce a cracked surface.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, or until just set but not hard. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.