• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 2-1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ginger
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Preparation-
In a large bowl, combine the sugar, butter or margerine, molasses and beaten egg. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Add this to to the first mixture. Beat at medium speed until well-blended. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough 1/8" thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheets, leaving a 1" space between each cookie. if you plan to hang the cookies, use a thin plastic drinking straw, to make a hole in the top of each cookie. Insert raisins, small candies, etc. for buttons, eyes, nose, etc. Bake in a preheated oven for 8 minutes at 350º or until lightly browned. Remove from the cookie sheets and place on wire racks to cool. Decorate with royal icing when completely cool. Tie a small piece of thin ribbon through the hole for hanging.

• 3 egg whites
• 1 lb. confectioner's sugar
• 1/2 tsp.cream of tartar

Preparation -
Beat the egg whites until
stiff. Add other ingredients and beat at the highest speed of an electric mixer for several minutes. Fill a cake decorator/pastry bag with the amount of icing you think you need. Keep the remaining icing in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator. This hardens very fast. To prevent clogging while using it, wrap the decorator tip in a moist paper towel whenever you lay it down, even for just few minutes.