Old Fashioned Gingerbread

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
3 egg yolks
1 Tbsp. ginger
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. soda
3 egg whites
3 cups flour

Cream together shortening, sugar, molasses, egg yolks and ginger. Mix together buttermilk and soda and stir well. Add to creamed mixture. Sift flour several times and add to mixture. Whip egg whites until stiff and fold in after all ingredients have been added. Pour into 7 1/2 x 15-inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.