Instructions: Set the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and spices; stir well to mix.

In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, then continue to beat until smooth. Beat in the molasses.

Lower the speed and beat in half the flour mixture, then all the hot water. Scrape the bowl and beater well, then beat in the remaining flour mixture. Remove the bowl from the mixer and give the dough a final mixing with a large rubber spatula.

Drop tablespoons of the dough 3 or 4 inches apart on the prepared pans. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes or until they rise and become firm. Slide the papers off the pans onto racks. After the cookies have cooled, detach them from the paper and store them between sheets of parchment or wax paper in a tin or plastic container with a tight-fitting cover.

Makes 40 cookies.

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.