Aunt Sally`s Cookies

1 c Shortening

2 Eggs

1 c Sugar

1 c Molasses

1 c Buttermilk

5 1/2 c All-purpose flour

1 ts Salt

4 ts Soda

2 ts Cinnamon

1/4 ts Nutmeg

1/2 ts Ground cloves

2 ts Ginger

This cookie recipe is interesting. Read the recipe and the frosting recipe. Both are different in some ways from any that I have in my files. I made these cookies this morning. Note my changes at the end of the recipe. Cream shortening and sugar; beat in eggs, molasses and buttermilk. Mix in remaining ingredients. Refrigerate dough ovenight. Roll dough 1/4" thick and cut out cookies with an empty Spam can. Bake on greased cookie sheets. Cool and frost. Bake 325 for 13-14 min. Frosting: 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 1 cup cold water 3 cups powdered sugar (possibly a little more to produce a suitable spreading consistency.) 3/4 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. vanilla. Dissolve gelatin in cold water; stir. In saucepan, bring this mixture to a boil and simmer for 10 min. Add powdered sugar, baking powder and vanilla. Beat until thick and

creamy. Notes: The original recipe calls for only 1-3/4 c. powdered sugar. This did not produce a spreading consistency, so I added more powdered sugar. The frosting hardens nicely (no sticky surface) and has an almost marshmallow consistency---no sticky surface but soft inside. The cookies remain soft if not overbaked. Bette Leland -----