Hallelujah Rolls

(Warning: lots of rising time required!)

Ingredients:

2 packets of Rapid Rise dry yeast – or 3 teaspoons of quick rising yeast

One stick butter flavored Crisco -These come in packs of 3

2 cups water (divided)

¾ cup sugar (you can use 1 cup if you like them sweeter)

1 healthy pinch of salt

2 large eggs (hand beaten)

4 and ¾ cups flour (I like Gold Medal – All Purpose or “Better for Bread” in a yellow bag if you can find it)

1 stick salted butter (melted)(for the inside and top of the rolls)

Directions:

Dissolve both yeast packets in 1 cup tepid water and set aside (do not use any plastic utensils or bowls, it can mess up the yeast – I use a wooden spoon to mix it and the dough)

Put the unwrapped Crisco cut into slices like butter in a large bread bowl (it should be somewhat tall for rising room)

Put the other cup of water in the microwave until it boils and then pour over the Crisco pats. Stir with a wooden spoon until it is fully melted.

Add sugar, pinch of salt and stir

After the mixture cools to room temp, stir in the eggs and dissolved yeast and stir

Gradually add Flour ½ cup at time, stirring gently. Keep adding flour until it forms a somewhat flattened ball but still a little sticky on the surface. Sometimes you may need a little more than 4 cups but do not overuse the flour as it will make the dough tough and it won’t rise. You want a big sticky ball.

Cover the bowl with a plate and let it rise in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours (overnight is okay too). It should double in size.

Then roll the dough gently out on a well-floured counter surface to about the thickness of a double stuffed Oreo. Do not knead the dough! Cut rounds out of the flattened dough with the rim of a glass or plastic cup. Put each round in your palm and indent the middle of the circle with the back of a butter knife to mark but not all the way through. This help the rolls fold over. Dip one half of the inside in melted butter, Fold the roll and place in a greased roll pan. Leave at least ½ inch between the rolls as they will rise again. (Hallelujah!)

Once all the rolls are in the pans, set them in a warm quiet place to rise. Let the rolls rise at least 2 hours or more.

Gently place them in a 350 degree oven until golden on top. As soon as they are done, remove them and brush more melted butter on top.

Enjoy!

-Aunt Bea