Bettie Landis's Gingerbread Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 2 1/4 cups dark molasses (orange label)
• 7-10 cups flour*
• 1 1/2 teaspoons allspice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 3/4 + 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• *We've seen versions of this recipe with as little as 6 cups and as many as 10. I used 8 and the dough was quite sticky. Use more flour for a stiffer cookie (say, for gingerbread houses), and less flour for softer cookies. It's very forgiving.