Ginger Cookies — Gingerbread Men
⅔ cup shortening
½ cup brown sugar
2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. cloves or allspice
1½ tsp. salt
1 egg
¾ cup molasses
3 cups flour, sifted
1 tsp. soda
½ tsp. baking powder
Cream together shortening, brown sugar, spices and salt. Add the egg, mix thoroughly. Add molasses and blend. Sift together twice the flour, soda, baking powder and add to the molasses mixture. Stir well and chill. Roll out a fourth of the dough at a time, on floured board to a little more than ⅛ inch thick. Cut with gingerbread man cutters or other shapes. Bake on greased cookie sheets in moderately hot (375-f) oven, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool before decorating.