Leslie Polson's Snappy Ginger Cookies

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup Brer Rabbit dark molasses
3 1/2 c. Flour, sifted (I usually only add 2 cups of flour to start as I like chewer cookies)
1/4 c. Hot water
1/4 tsp. powdered cloves
1 tsp. each: baking soda, salt(I add less), ground ginger
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Blend butter and sugar (I usually melt the butter) together and beat in molasses. Sift dry ingredients together and add to molasses mixture, in thirds, alternating with hot water. Chill the dough 2 or 3 hours or longer. Roll thin on a floured board and cut out with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 on greased and floured cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes. Decorate with icing and other fun stuff.