Gingerbread Men

3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp ground ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
6 tbsp melted butter
1 tbsp melted shortening
2/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup molasses
1 egg

Mix flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Mix butter, shortening, brown sugar, molasses and egg. Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Divide the dough in half, wrap plastic and pat 1/2 inch thick. Chill 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 350*. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch, and cut out the cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Royal Icing
Mix 2 tbsp meringue powder and 1 pound powder sugar into a large bowl. Beat 6 tbsp water, mix until glossy. Mix in color as desired.