"Joe Froggers" - Soft Molasses Cookies Submitted by Grammaw "This recipe was published in our paper many years ago. The article said - next time you are planning a summertime treat serve 'Joe Froggers' - big, delicious molasses cookies. They’re made from a recipe that is over 100 years old - the pride of one man, Uncle Joe as he was known to the people of Marblehead, Mass. Since he lived on the edge of a frog pond, the cookies soon became known as Joe Froggers. After Uncle Joe died, his daughter gave the recipe to a fisherman’s wife, and soon most of the women in town were making the cookies. Children bought them for a penny apiece in a local bake shop and today they are served in the Publick House in the colonial village in Sturbridge, mass. Serve them with a pitcher of cold milk or with a frosty cold fruit punch." 4 1/3 c. sifted all-purpose flour 1/4 t. allspice 1 t. baking soda 3/4 c. shortening 1/2 t. salt 3/4 c. sugar 1 1/2 t. ginger 1 c. light molasses 3/4 t. cloves 1 T. rum extract 3/4 t. nutmeg 1/3 c. water Mix and sift flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Cream shortening and sugar. Add molasses and rum extract; beat well. Add flour mixture and water alternately, beating until well blended after each addition. Wrap dough in foil; chill overnight. Roll dough half at a time, about ¼ inch thick. Cut with floured 4-inch round cookie cutter. Bake on lightly greased cookie sheets @ 375 degrees for 8 to 9 minutes or until just done, but not browned around the edges. Cool on racks. Store in airtight can or jar. Makes 2 dozen cookies.