Hum Muds Ginger Cookies From Girard College

This recipe was lost in time of how these hum muds were made at girard college in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Girard college was a completely self-sufficient live-in school for boys that was built according to the will of stephen girard. My father, whose name then was michael levy, entered the school in 1915 at the age of four. The school was known for their wonderful ginger cookies that the students called hum muds, which meant mud pies from the home. Through the years there have been many attempts to make these cookies, but only this is the correct recipe.

Steps

Cream the sugar , lard , salt and spices together and beat them until light.

Add the molasses and beat 3 minutes.

Add 3 / 4 cup cool water and beat for 1 minute.

Fold in the flour.

Dissolve baking soda in 1 / 4 cup cool water and add to the other ingredients , mixing until smooth.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Grease and lightly flour a baking sheet.

Wet hands with cold water and make patties of batter , then placing them onto the baking sheet and pat them down.

Dip a knife into cold water and use the knife to score the gingers.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Ingredients

all-purpose flour, brown sugar, lard, molasses, cinnamon, ground cloves, allspice, ginger, salt, baking soda, water