Nelle's Molasses Cookies

Ingredients 1 cup Lard, 1 cup Sugar, 1 Egg, 1 cup Molasses, 5 cups Flour, 1 teaspoon Cinnamon, 2 teaspoons Ginger, ¼ teaspoon Cloves, 1 teaspoon Salt, 1 cup Hot Water   Make 'em this way I must say to start off, I never made these cookies, but years ago they were the best treat on Halloween. A friend's mother made these Gingermen Cookies and he gave me the recipe which he got from his sister. (I can only presume this is the correct recipe.) If you do try baking these molasses cookies, I hope it works out right for you. If not... just know that these cookies were the best. Maybe that's enough, that they're remembered. *** Cream lard and sugar *** *** Add egg and molasses *** *** Sift together spices and flour, then add alternately with hot water. *** *** Chill dough thoroughly overnight in refrigerator, or at least two hours in freezer. *** *** Roll out dough at least ¼ inch thick, cut with cookie cutter, and bake at 375° Fah 8 to 10 minutes. Cookies should not be too firm. *** *** Decorate with colored sugar if desired. *** *** Note: Dough must be cold when worked. Leave the part not being worked in refrigerator. *** Darned if I know how many servings this is. Might be enough for a snack or maybe enough to feed the entire neighborhood.