Molasses cookies ala Mary Foote

I have been having problems with making cookies. They have been spreading out too much and getting paper thin. So I consulted ace baker Mary Foote and requested her recipe for Molasses cookies. After discussing my problem, Mary's theory was that my air-bake cookie sheets are the problem. So we decided to try a scientific experiment with old-school cookie sheets and air-bakes and see if one does a better job. The results are pictured below and it made no difference which cookie sheet I used. So I'm going to ask Mary Foote for more cookie recipes. Because clearly her recipes are superior to mine. So here's the recipe for Molasses cookies....
Mix 1 cup sugar with 3/4 cup shortening (I used butter flavored Crisco sticks)
Add 1/4 cup Molasses (Brer Rabbitt recommended brand)
Add 1 egg and beat well.

Mix together the following ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt.
Add the flour mixture to the sugar/shortening/etc mixture.
Form in 1 inch balls, roll in sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes (spray cookie sheet with Pam)

My thanks to technical assistant Greg Barnes for figuring out the picture of the cookies.
Happy Baking!