Step 1

Scald milk (bring just to a boil and remove from heat immediately).

Step 2

Stir in sugar, salt, and butter. Set aside and allow to cool to lukewarm.

Step 3

In a large bowl mix warm water and yeast. Stir until dissolved.

Step 4

Stir in lukewarm milk mixture.

Step 5

Add beaten eggs.

Step 6

Stir in half the flour. Beat until smooth. Add remaining flour gradually, mixing as you go. You may need a bit more or less than the total 4 1/2 cups called for in the recipe, depending on the humidity and other factors.

Step 7

Your dough should be elastic and slightly stiff but not dry.

Step 8

Turn dough out onto a floured board and knead until smooth and very elastic. This usually takes 8-10 minutes.

Step 9

Butter the inside of a large mixing bowl. Put dough in bowl and turn dough over a couple of times to coat it all with the butter.

Step 10

Cover bowl and place in a warm place so it can rise.

Step 11

It will take about 1 hour to double in bulk.

Step 12

At that time punch dough down and turn out onto a lightly floured board to shape.

Step 13

At this point, you can shape and fill as desired. To make dinner rolls, pinch off about 2-3 tablespoons of dough and shape into a ball. Place each one in a buttered muffin tin or baking pan, barely touching each other, do not crowd rolls.

Step 14

Cover prepared rolls and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, again about 1 hour.

Step 15

Rolls should now touch each other. (A little more rising will occur during baking.)

Step 16

Preheat oven to 350 degrees when rolls are about 10 minutes from being ready for baking. When ready to bake place rolls in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. They should be browned nicely and smell so good and yeasty!

Step 17

Brush tops of rolls with melted butter immediately when removed from the oven.

Step 18

Allow rolls to sit for at least 10-15 minutes before eating.