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 375C8. 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