My Best Gingerbread

That would be my Aunt Harriet's Best Gingerbread. She was a farm wife and 4-H leader for years, and won a blue ribbon at the county fair for her gingerbread.

1/2  cup  butter
1/2  cup  sugar
1  egg, beaten
2-1/2  cups  flour
1-1/2  tsp  baking soda
1 tsp  cinnamon
1/2  tsp  cloves
1/2  tsp  salt
1  cup  molasses
1  cup  hot water

Cream butter and sugar; add beaten egg. Sift dry ingredients together. Combine hot water and molasses. Add liquid and dry ingredients alternately to creamed mixture. Beat until smooth.

Bake in prepared 8" square pan for 45 minutes @350 degrees.