1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. molasses
1/4 c. water
2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. allspice

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add remaining ingredients, scraping bowl well when mixing. Put mixture into middle of cookie sheet. Shape mixture into desired shape (girl, boy, animal, etc. Once I made a gingerbread ballerina!)

Bake no more than 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool 10 minutes, remove onto foil. (I cover cookie sheet with foil and slide it off.)