Boy Meets Girl

Dear Katie,

I hear from my lawyer that you are fired, too! And because of me! I am very sorry to hear this. And so I brought you some of the cookies you like so much. I hope they will make you feel better. Also I am taking some to the lawyer man who made you fired. The ugly one’s brother. He is a good man, this brother, in spite of getting you fired. I think he’d be nice to you . . . not like that no-good other boyfriend I see you with.

Here is the recipe for my cookies, so you can make them for this man, and he will love you.

Ida

Ida Lopez’s Gingersnaps

1¹ /2 sticks unsalted butter (softened)

1¹ /3 cups sugar

1 egg

¹/4 cup molasses

2 cups flour

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

¹/4 tsp ground cloves

¹/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350šF. Beat butter and 1 cup sugar on medium until well blended. Beat in egg and molasses until fluffy.

Whisk ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt into flour. Add flour mixture into butter/sugar mixture with mixer on low.

Using¹ /2 teaspoon, form dough into balls. Roll balls into remaining¹ /3 cup sugar. Place two inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Using fingertip, place a drop of water on top of each cookie. Do not press down on dough.

Bake 1215 minutes or until cookies are flattened or crinkled. Cool for two minutes on sheets, then place on racks.

Note: 12 minutes for chewy cookies, 15 for crispy.