Hard Gingerbread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 c. butter or other shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. molasses
2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. baking soda, dissolved in 1 Tbsp. hot water
4 c. (approximately) flour
1 beaten egg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. salt

Preparation

Blend 3 cups flour with spices.
Melt shortening.
Add sugar and molasses.
Stir to cool slightly.
Add soda and egg.
Add dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
Add enough additional flour to make a very stiff dough.
Pat dough smoothly into a shallow 12 x 18-inch pan.
Bake 10 minutes at 350\u00b0.
Sprinkle top with granulated sugar. Bake 10 minutes more.
Cool in pan.