Giant Ginger Cookies

From the recipe - "These irresistible cookies are giant in size and huge in snappy ginger flavor.  To create the chewy texture, be sure to make them with shortening, not butter or margarine."  Mom has always used butter and they've always tasted great.

Ingredients

• 4.5 c. all-purpose flour
• 4 tsp. ground ginger
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1.5 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground cloves
• .25 tsp. salt
• 1.5 cups shortening (or butter)
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• .5 c. molasses
• .75 c. coarse sugar or granulated sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Cream sugar and butter
3. Mix in eggs and molasses
4. Mix dry ingredients separately
5. Add dry ingredients to the cream sugars
6. Roll into balls (golf-ball size for giant cookies)
7. Roll balls in coarse or granulated sugar
8. Place on cookie sheet 2.5 in. apart
9. Bake for 12-14 min
10. Once done, let stand for 2 min before transferring to rack

Yields: 25 - 4 in. cookies