Recipes out of the Blond Box

2 ½ cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
¾ teaspoon salt
½ cup shortening
½ cup sugar
1 medium egg
1 cup molasses
1 cup hot water

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease, then line with waxed paper the bottom of a 9" x 9" x 2" pan. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. With electric mixer at “cream”, thoroughly mix shortening with sugar, then egg until very light and fluffy – about 4 min. Beat in the molasses. Then at low speed or “blend”, beat in alternately just until smooth, one fourth of the flour mixture alternating with one third of the hot water until flour and water are both Incorporated. Turn into pan. Bake 50 to 55 min. or until done. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 min. Remove from the pan, peel off the paper; cool completely on rack.