Pepper Cookies

This recipe has been in my family for years.
The recipe uses ground black pepper,
but we found it spicy enough without it.

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup shortening, melted and cooled slightly
1 egg
3/4 cup water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the shortening, egg, water and vanilla.
Stir in the sugar, flour, baking powder, cinnamon,
nutmeg, cloves, salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
Shape the dough into walnut sized balls.
Bake on a ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees F. for 15 minutes.
When cool frost with confectioners' sugar
or dip into melted white morsels.