Gingerbread men and women

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 large egg (ostriches lay very large eggs so I stick with chickens)
1 golden syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons warm water
Decorations... use your imagination!

How 2

In a large bowl, cream the shortening with the sugar, egg and golden syrup.
Dissolve baking soda in warm water and add to the creamed mixture and beat until smooth. Mix in the flour, spices and salt until well blended. Cover and chill for at least 12 hours or even 24 hours (Yes a whole day of delayed gratification).
Preheat the oven about 24 hours after making the dough to a temperature of 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets or line the baking trays. Roll out dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch on a floured surface. Cut out gingerbread men and women, even dogs and cats and hearts and any other shapes you fancy using cookie cutters and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm. Remove from baking trays and cool on wire racks and decorate to your hearts content.

By the way if you like darker Gingerbread with a spicier taste use Molasses instead of golden syrup but warm the molasses before incorporating into the mixture.