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Cream shortening and sugar
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Add molasses and egg, and continue to cream mixture
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Add two teaspoons of soda to the sour milk
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Add one teaspoon of soda to the tablespoon of vinegar
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Add milk, vinegar, spices, and salt to the molasses and egg mixture
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Move the batter into a bigger bowl, if necessary and fold in the flour
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Refrigerate batter one hour, or over night to enable a rolling consistency
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Remove dough from refrigerator and pre-heat your oven to 350 F
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Roll dough between two pieces of very lightly floured parchment paper
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Cut into shapes and carefully move each shape onto a parchment covered cookie sheet
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Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the bottom is light brown and the cookies are puffy on top (the cooking time will depend upon how thick you have cut them)
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For really big, fat gingerbread men, leave dough about 1/2 inch thick (much thinner for other cookies) and bake for 18 to 20 minutes.
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Ice with Orange Butter Icing