Winter Gingerbread Cookies

wonderful for the holidays

1 cup box shortening

1 cup sugar

1 cup molasses

1 egg

2 tbsp vinegar

5 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cloves

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add the molasses, egg and

2 tbsp vinegar; beat well. Sift together all dry ingredients.

Stir into creamed mixture. Chill for 3 hours. Roll dough 1/4 inch

thick on lightly floured surface. Cut and shape as explained below.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for a 5-6 minutes. Cool slightly

before removing to cooling rack. Using a gingerbread man

cookie cutter. Decorate with white confectioners' sugar icing,. piped

through a decorator tube; add candy features and colored sugar crystals.