1/2 c  Butter or margarine
     1 c  Light brown sugar*
     2    Eggs
     1 ts Vanilla
   1/2 ts Lemon extract
   1/2 ts Anise extract
 2 3/4 c  Sifted flour
     1 ts Baking powder
   1/2 ts Salt
   1/2 ts Black pepper
   1/4 ts Nutmeg
   1/4 ts Cloves
   1/8 ts Mace
          Confectioners sugar
* firmly packed
  Just the smell of these cookies baking is enough to get you in the holiday
 spirit.
  In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with brown sugar. Beat eggs and
 extracts. In another bowl, add sifted flour and mix baking powder, salt,
 pepper and spices. Gradually add flour butter mixture, mixing well after
 each addition. Chill 2 hours or overnight.
  Preheat oven to 375?. Shape dough with two teaspoons into ovals and place
 on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes. Carefully remove cookies
 from baking sheets to wire racks and sprinkle with confectioners sugar.
 Cool and store in airtight containers. These cookies keep well and mellow
 with age. They’re their best about 5-8 days after baking.
Yield: about 5 dozen. Martina Boudreau, St. Louis, MO
Randy Shearer
 From 
                
                 Yields       
                1 Servings                
