Grandma's Molasses Cookies

Grandma's Molasses Cookies
3/4 cup shortening *
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup plain molasses
2 1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon 
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt 
Sugar for coating (preferably coarse sugar) 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Cream shortening and sugar until smooth and creamy.  Add egg and molasses and mix well.  In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt.  Gradually add dry ingredients to molasses mixture and mix until well-combined.  Form into 1-inch balls and roll in sugar.  Place on parchment-lined or lightly greased baking sheets, spacing 3-inches apart.  Bake in preheated oven until edges are crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Makes about 4 dozen.

* For most cookie recipes I use only butter, but this recipe works best with solid shortening (such as Crisco) or a mixture of shortening and butter.