Grandma's Recipes #2 - Gingerbread Men

I've made these two Christmas's in a row.  The spice mix is intense and the cookies come out very molasses-forward, which is how I like my gingerbread but may be a little two spicy for some.  If you don't frost them, they definitely benefit from a little course sugar sprinkled over the top.  This recipe also makes a HUGE batch.  My standard size KitchenAid mixer can barely handle all the dough.  You may want to cut the recipe in half.  Also, please don't skip the lard and use butter.  They're just not the same.  Comments in [gray braces] are not in the original recipe.

I made mine into Ninja-bread men.  I don't know if Grandma would approve

Gingerbread men
1 cup melted lard
1 cup white sugar
1 cup dark molasses
2 eggs
1/2 cup hot water with 1 teaspoon [dissolved baking] soda
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 Tsp [powdered ground] ginger
6 cups flour

[Cream lard, sugar, and molasses.  Add eggs one at a time. Slowly add water with dissolved soda and spices.  Beat in flour, one cup at a time.  Mixture will be thick]   If you make ginger men, chill it awhile [an hour or more] for better results.  Bake at 375 for 10 to 15 minutes.