Gingerbread

1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 beaten egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. ginger
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Pour boiling water over shortening.  Add brown sugar, molasses, egg, and sifted dry ingredients.  Beat until smooth.  Batter will be thin.  Bake in greased 8 inch square pan at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

This recipe is from Beth's Grandmother Ormesher.  The first year Adam and Beth were married, Beth brought this recipe to Cookie Day. We decided we weren't going to be making gingerbread men when the recipe made batter instead of dough.