Gingerbread dough for structures

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.04
  
       Title: Gingerbread Dough For Structures
  Categories: Polkadot, Epona, Cookies
       Yield: 1 Servings
  
     2/3 c  Shortening
     1/2 c  Sugar
     1/2 c  Blackstrap molasses
       1    Egg
       3 c  Flour
       1 ts Baking soda
       1 ts Baking powder
       1 ts Cinnamon
       1 ts Ginger
       1 ts Cloves
     1/2 ts Nutmeg
  
   Cream shortening and sugar.  Add molasses and egg; beat thoroughly.
   Sift together remaining ingredients and add to liquid mixture.  Mix
   well.  If dough does not come together, add water as necessary.
   (Dough tends to be stiff.) Roll to 1/2" thick and cut pattern for
   desired structure. Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes. Be very careful
   when removing from baking sheets to cooling rack. Let cool
   thoroughly, then assemble using Royal icing (2 egg whites, 1/2 tsp.
   cream of tartar, 1/2 to 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 lb. confectioners sugar.
   Beat until stiff.)
   
   A couple of things: Roll out the dough right on the cookie sheets,
   cut your pieces, and peel away the extra dough.  A lot easier than
   trying to transfer the pieces from rolling board to sheets.  Leave
   some space between pieces; this dough tends to spread a bit.  It also
   has a tendency to crack a little when you take it off the baking
   sheet if you use a small spatula to move it. I went out and invested
   in one with a 5"x3" blade. The cookie isn't too sweet, but nice and
   spicy.
   
   I spent the whole day with my mom, helping her make cookies for
   Christmas gifts.  Somewhere around 600 cookies later, I'm finally
   home.... Anyway, she gave me permission to divulge her gingerbread
   recipe, so here it is.
   
   * The Polka Dot Palace BBS 1-201-822-3627.  Posted by EPONA
  
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