Mix together sugar, shortening, molasses and ginger. Dissolve soda in hot water. Add to sugar mixture. Stir in flour. Pinch off little pieces of dough the size of walnuts. Place on greased baking sheet. Space them, as when put in oven they will puff up and when done will flatten out and crackle all over top. Bake at 180ºC or 8 to 10 minutes, checking often as they burn easily. Let cool before removing from pan. ----