Chewy Gingerbread Cookies

At Christmas time, one of our neighbors would bring these cookies to our house. In less than five minutes they would be gone. After several years we finally asked for the recipe. Thankfully, Dina was happy to share. These cookies are easy and you will be the praise of your house when you make them. Did I mention that they make your house smell like Christmas?
Enjoy.

Gingerbread Cookies
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 egg
2 tsp. baking soda
2 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups flour
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream shortening, sugar and molasses.
Add egg.
Mix water with baking soda and add to shortening mix.
Add dry ingredients. The dough should be stiff. If it's sticky at all, add a little more flour.
Form 1-inch balls of dough and roll in white sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-ish minutes, JUST until the cookies crack. If you bake them longer they won't stay soft when they cool.