My husband's Great-Aunt Willa lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Her husband, Jim, was a barber, and had his shop in the front room of their house. Jim barbered there for over 50 years!

We visited them, and enjoyed Aunt Willa's Mary Anns. That's what they were called, "Mary Anns", no "cookies" in the name.

Aunt Willa's Mary Anns

1 c brown sugar
1 c half butter, half shortening
3 eggs
3/4 c molasses
1 tsp soda
1 c sour milk
1 T cinnamon
3 to 4 c flour

1. Cream shortening mix and sugar.
2. Beat in eggs.
3. Stir in molasses.
4. Dissolve the soda in the sour milk, stir in the mix
5. Add just enough flour to be able to drop the dough by teaspoonfuls.

Bake at 300 ° for 20 minutes.

Frosting:

Mix:

3 c confectioners' sugar
1/2 c orange juice
orange rind to taste (Aunt Willa shaved thin slices off the orange rind, then chopped them fine. You may want to use a zester.)
1 tsp oleo