Are you baking while staying at home? Below is my favorite recipe for molasses cookies using simple ingredients I typically have  on hand. This is one of the recipes included in A Knights Bridge Christmas, a hopeful contemporary story with a connection to World War II.

Molasses Cookies

3/4 cup vegetable shortening or butter (I use butter)

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 large egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. each salt; ground cloves; ground ginger

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

Melt shortening or butter and let cool. Add sugar, molasses and egg. In a medium bowl, sift or stir with a fork the dry ingredients. Add to the wet mixture and blend. Chill for about an hour. Preheat oven to 375 F. Roll dough into small balls. If desired, roll balls lightly in sugar. Place on uncreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.

Enjoy with your favorite mug filled with coffee or tea, or with a tall glass of milk!