COOKIE'S KIDS RECIPES

Steps:

• Into a large bowl, sift together flour, spices, baking soda, salt, and pepper; set aside. In a large saucepan, melt shortening over medium-high heat, about 4 minutes. Whisk in sugar and molasses until well combined. Remove from heat, and stir in the flour mixture until just combined but still crumbly. If dough is still sticky, add a bit more flour.
• Turn out dough onto a large piece of plastic wrap, and wrap to enclose completely; let cool slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Divide dough into two equal parts, and place on prepared baking sheets. While dough is still slightly warm, roll out gently but firmly to a 3/8-inch thickness. Cut out desired shapes, and remove excess dough from around cutters or templates.
• Bake 30 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Steps:

• Important: Cut each small square of semisweet chocolate into four pieces.
• Cream butter or other shortening and add sugars and beaten egg.
• Dissolve soda in the hot water and mix alternately with the flour sifted with the salt.
• Lastly, add the chopped nuts and the pieces of semisweet chocolate.
• Flavor with the vanilla and drop by half teaspoons on a greased cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes in a 375 (F) degree Fahrenheit oven.