Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  3 1/2           cups  unsifted all-purpose flour
  1 1/2      teaspoons  ground ginger
  1 1/2      teaspoons  cinnamon
  1         tablespoon  baking soda
  1         tablespoon  ground cloves
     1/4    tablespoon  salt
     1/2           cup  butter -- softened
     3/4           cup  sugar
  1                     egg
     3/4           cup  light molasses
  1         tablespoon  grated lemon rind
                        decorations as desired

Preparation:

Preparation time: 35 minutes Chilling time: 2 hours or overnight Cooking time: 7 to 10 minutes 1. Measure 3 1/2 cups flour; sift together with spices, baking soda and salt; set aside. Beat butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add sugar and mix on high speed until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Add egg and mix well. Stop the mixer and add molasses and lemon rind. Mix on low speed to combine. Stir in dry ingredients with a wooden spoon. 2. Divide dough into four parts. Wrap each one separately in plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight. 3. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets. 4. Remove one piece of dough from the refrigerator at a time. Roll the well-chilled dough on a floured board or between sheets of waxed paper to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out with cookie cutters and carefully transfer to prepared baking sheets, leaving 1-inch between each cookie. 5. Bake just until the cookies are lightly browned and set, 7 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Transfer from baking sheets to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating. Decorate as desired. Store in airtight containers.

Nutritional Information:

51 Calories (kcal); 2g Total Fat; (39% calories from fat); trace Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 10mg Cholesterol; 154mg Sodium