In large saucepan, cream shortening, molasses, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. Mix well and bring slowly to boiling point. Cool. Add egg. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together and add to first mixture. Mix well. Chill dough for 3 or more hours.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8" to 1/4" thickness. Cut out gingerbread men with cutter (dip cutter in flour before cutting each one). Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 12 minutes at 375F. Remove from pans immediately to cool on racks. When cool, ice with Confectioners' Icing (below). Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
CONFECTIONER'S ICING:
1-1/2 Tbsp. butter, softened
1-1/2 C confectioners' sugar
3 Tbsp. cream
Pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla
Cream butter while slowly adding sugar. Add cream, salt, and vanilla; mix until smooth. Divide mixture into small bowls and add a few drops of food coloring as desired. Use toothpicks or small knives to decorate the cookies. If needed, thicken with sugar, or thin with cream.