2 1/4 c All-purpose flour

1/3 c Granulated sugar

1 ts Ground cinnamon

1 ts Ground ginger

1/2 ts Baking powder

1/2 ts Salt

1/4 ts Pepper

1/4 ts Ground nutmeg

1/4 ts Ground cloves

1/3 c Dark molasses

1/3 c Butter or margarine; melted

1 Egg

Confectioner's sugar Preheat oven to moderate (375 degrees). Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, salt, pepper, nutmeg and cloves in large bowl. Stir in molasses and butter with wooden spoon. Mix in egg until blended (the dough will be stiff). Shape into 1" balls, using about 1-1/2 teaspoons per cookie. Place 1" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated moderate oven (375 degrees) for 10 to 12 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center of cookie comes out clean; cookies will crack. Remove cookies to wire rack. Roll in confectioners' sugar while still warm and return to rack to cool completely. -----