Dissolve baking soda in the hot water and stir in the shortening, brown sugar and egg.
1 3/4
cups flour
1/2
teaspoon ground cloves
1/2
teaspoon salt
1/2
teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2
teaspoon ginger
1/2
teaspoon baking powder
1/2
teaspoon cinnamon
Sift the flour, salt ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and baking powder together and then stir in the baking soda, water, shortening, brown sugar and egg mixture.
1/3
cup cut up dates
1/3
cup chopped pecans
Stir in the dates and pecans into the rest of the mixture. Roll in small balls the size of a walnut. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Place a pecan half on the top of each cookie. Bake at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes.