2 cups flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup dark molasses
Simple enough really. Mix together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Then in a separate bowl, cream the shortening and 1/2 cup sugar till fluffy. Beat in the egg and then the molasses, then (with the mixer on low), mix in the flour mixture. Voila!
Use a little less than 1/4 cup per cookie. Roll it into a ball and then coat those balls in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Mmmm sugary balls. Ahem. I smushed them with the bottom of a glass and baked them at 350F for about 10 minutes. The whole house smells like ginger and cinnamon!