Gingerbread Cutouts

For this recipe I pulled out the trustly ol' Better Homes and Gardens cook book! I've wanted to make ginger bread men for a while and this was my first attempt which turned out pretty good if I do say so myself!

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 cup molasses

1 egg

1 T vinegar

2 1/2 cup flour (a little more when rolling out dough)

In a mixing bowl beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasiionally. Beat in molasses, egg, and vinegar until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill dough about 3 hours or until easy to handle.

Grease cookier sheet; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough at a time until 1/4 in thick.. using cookie cutters, cut out shapes. Place 1 in apart on cookie sheet.

Bake at 375* for 5 to 6 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to wire rack and let cool. If desired, decorate cookies with icing and sprinkles.