A Recipe from Maude March on the Run!

A note from audrey: this recipe is true to the period for, as you might guess, butter was used very sparingly. because of this, you'll find it makes a stiff batter. it took a strong arm to chop wood, whip potatoes with a wire 'masher,' and stir these cookies. you can use a mixer on slow speed, though, as i do. the cookies are great with milk.

• 1 Tablespoon soft butter
• ½ cup dark molasses
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ¼ cup of flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Put butter, molasses and vanilla into a bowl and beat until blended.

Put flour, baking soda and salt into a bowl, stir together, and beat a little at a time into the molasses mixture. the batter will get stiff and hard to stir as the last of the flour goes in.

Spoon onto a greased cookie sheet to bake at 350* for about seven minutes or until tops spring back when touched lightly.

Makes one dozen cookies.