Marvelous Molasses Cookies for Everyone in Braces from Red Deer Orthodontics

At Dr. Cram's office, we know that its hard to give up some of your favorite foods when you have braces. We don't think you have to give up everything good though! Brenda Waterman and her mom, Pam, had the same idea. And so they wrote The Braces Cookbook:Recipes You (And Your Orthodontist) Will Love.

Here's a sneak peak from Red Deer Orthodontics:

Marvelous Molasses Cookies

They smell wonderful even before baking, they melt in your mouth, and they never harden up. Yum – the best of gingerbread and ginger snaps in one!

--1 cup shortening
--1 cup brown sugar
--1 egg
--1/2 tsp salt
--1/2 cup molasses
--1/2 cup warm water
--1 tsp baking soda
--1 tsp cinnamon
--1/2 tsp ginger
--2 1/2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Baking time 11 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine shortening, brown sugar, egg, salt and molasses, using an electric mixer and beating until fluffy. Add cinnamon and ginger. In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir the baking soda into the warm water; add water mixture to the molasses mixture alternately with the flour until well blended.

Drop by tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 11 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes about four dozen. Store in a covered container.