1/2 c. shortening
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. Grandma's unsulphured molasses
1 egg
2 c. sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. powdered ginger

Raisins for eyes, chocolate chips for buttons. Cream shortening, brown sugar and molasses. Add egg; mix well. Sift dry ingredients together. Stir into the egg batter. Mix until ingredients are completely moistened. Gather into a ball and chill covered tightly for one hour. Working with half of the dough (keep the other half refrigerated), roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into gingerbread men shapes. Decorate with raisin eyes and chocolate chip buttons pressed gently into the dough.

Bake on ungreased sheet at 350°F for 8 to 12 minutes, depending upon the size of cookie. Cool completely before removing cookies from the pan.

Makes 2 dozen men or 3 dozen other shapes!