Soft Molasses Cookies

This is an ANCIENT recipie! My grandmother (who has been gone since 1994) Got this recipe from her girlfriend Sadie Kilburn back in 1934(?).

My family assumes that due to the nature of the recipe came from Sadies Grandmother as well but of this we are not certain.

The original recipe called for Lard that has been changed to shortening.

The recipe also is meant to be a roll and cut out cookie, but frankly i do not have time or patience for that. So I wax paper tubed the dough, froze it, then sliced it. It worked fine without the bother and mess of rolling it out.

Soft Molasses Cookies
1/2 Generous cup of White Sugar
1 1/2 Cup of molasses
1 Generous cup Shortening
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Egg
2 Heaping Teaspoons Baking Soda Dissolved in:
3/4 Cup Hot water (don't skip that step!)
1 teaspoon Ginger
enough flour to roll the dough out (aprox 7 cups)

Sprinkle cookies with white sugar
bake in 300 deg oven 10 mins?

do not over bake