Ginger Cookies

Wrote this recipe down while watching Food Network while recovering from surgery. It was featured in the "Food Network Caters Your Hawaiian Wedding". This was one of Paula Deen's contributions. I love ginger cookies and can't wait until I can get in the kitchen and whip up a batch. They looked SOO good!

• Ready In: 37 mins
• Yields: 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1  cup sugar, plus more for rolling
• 1  large egg
• 1⁄4 cup molasses
• 2  cups  sifted all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons baking soda
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon ground ginger
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.
3. Using an electric mixer at low speed, cream the shortening and sugar until thoroughly combined.
4. Add the egg and molasses and beat until completely incorporated.
5. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt and add to the mixture.
6. Stir until combined.
7. Roll the dough into balls about 1-inch in diameter.
8. Roll the balls in sugar.
9. Place 1/2-inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
10. Flatten the balls slightly with your fingertips.
11. Bake for 12 minutes.
12. Cool on wire racks.