Cookies by the Dozen

My homeschool cooking classes made 5 different types of cookies today, and promptly sampled them all (except the ones that were burned).  The favorite seemed to be Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies.  Reminds me of Grandma Mary Leonard.  One of the pitfalls of having 18 students in the kitchen is my back is often turned so accidents happen before I can prevent them, such as:  broken timer on one of the ovens meant not knowing for sure when the baking was done, incorrect temperature control on the other meant it cooked too fast and the cookies didn't flatten out, mixing the nut topping into the dough meant starting all over with snickerdoodle pinwheels, dropping breaking the whole jar of molasses meant "Oh well" because luckily it was already added to the dough.  I guess that's how young cooks learn.  I'm sure they won't make these mistakes again when they bake them at home this week.
Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies
3/4 c. shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 c. molasses
2 1/4 c. flour
2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ginger
1/2 t. cloves
1/2 c. sugar
1. Beat shortening and brown sugar until creamy.
2. Add egg and molasses and beat well.
3. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
4. Add together and stir well.
5. Cover and chill dough for 15 minutes-2 hours.
6. Roll by 1-teaspoonful into balls, and roll in sugar.
7. Bake at 350’ F for 12-15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.