3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cardamom
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1 cup softened butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk together dry ingredients. Beat butter and sugar together till pale and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients till just combined. Form dough into two 12x1 1/2 inch logs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and square off sides of logs into rectangular boxes. Chill on baking sheet 1 hour till firm. Heat oven to 350°F. Cut logs into scant 1/4 inch thick slices and place 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Keep dough cooled until baking. Bake 10-12 minutes till edges are golden. Cool on sheets 3 minutes before removing to racks to cool completely. Cookies can be drizzled with melted chocolate for decoration.