Gingerbread

These spicy gingerbread cookies were a real hit with my son Danny (his pop liked them too).

You Will Need:

1/3 cup soft shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1/1/2 cups mild molasses
1/2 cup cold water
7 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in 3 tablespoons water

Mix together the shortening, brown sugar and molasses. Add the cold water and stir. Sift dry ingredients together and add. Lastly, add the dissolved soda. Chill the dough well (overnight is best). Roll out thick and cut as desired. Grease a baking sheet (or use parchment) and bake in a pre-heated 350 degree F. oven for 12-15 minutes depending on thickness. Cool on racks. Decorate as desired. This is quite a bit of dough and will make about 18 gingerbread men.