Rolled Molasses Cookies - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 pint lard
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
2 tablespoons baking soda
1 pint molasses
1 cup cold water (, or coffee)
6 -8 cups flour

Preparation

If you want to use vegetable shortening instead of lard, increase the amount by 1/2 cup I have never done this.
(I add cinnamon too).
Cream lard, sugars; add eggs, salt, spices, and baking soda.
Add molasses and beat well, add water slowly.
Stir in enough flour to make a dough stiff enough to roll.
(I chill dough for a few hours) Roll 1/4 inch thick (or thicker if you want cake-y cookies) and you may sprinkle with extra sugar.
Cut cookies, place on ungreased cookie sheets, bake in a 400 oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
They are done when you can press down with a finger and leave a dent.
Cool on wire racks.
I prefer to gauge doneness by looking at the underside of the cookie and seeing how brown it is.
If you want a cake-y cookie, don't let the cookies get dark browned, you want them golden, dark tan.
Baking time will vary with the size of your cookies too.
Small ones take a lot less time to bake.