Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets., Beat together the shortening, sugar, salt, and baking soda., Beat in the egg, then the molasses., Add the flour and spices, beating to make a smooth, fairly stiff dough., To make the coating, combine the sugar and cinnamon, and place in a shallow pan or dish., Drop the dough in 1" balls into the cinnamon-sugar mixture; a teaspoon cookie scoop is perfect here., Roll the balls in the sugar to coat, then transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 1 1/2" between them; they'll spread as they bake., Bake the cookies for 11 minutes, for cookies that are crisp around the edges, and "bendy" in the center. Bake for 13 minutes, for cookies that are crisp/crunchy all the way through., Remove the cookies from the oven, and cool right on the pan, or on a rack. Cool completely, then store tightly wrapped, at room temperature.