Nanny's Famous Buns (Rolls)

This roll recipe came from my mother-in-law about 5 years before she passed on, which she had learned from her mother. When I asked to learn how to make bread from her, I did not know the gift that she would eventually share with me in the form of these wonderfully light rolls, and I think it a shame to keep the recipe all to myself. Thank you, Elaine.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 48
• Yields: 48 rolls

Ingredients

• 8 1⁄2-10  cups flour
• 2  cups boiling water
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 2  teaspoons sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter (can use margarine, but butter is best)
• 1  cup warm water (no more than 105 degrees)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  tablespoons  traditional dry active yeast
• 4  eggs

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cups of the flour, 1/2 cups sugar, butter, salt and 2 cups boiling water. Stir until smooth. Let cool.
2. Meanwhile dissolve 2 teaspoons sugar in 1 cup warm water. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons yeast, let stand 10 minutes or until good and foamy.
3. In a separate bowl beat 4 eggs until foamy. Add to cooled flour mixture.
4. Stir yeast mix into the flour mixture.
5. Using an electric mixer, beat in 4 cups of flour, one cup at a time until smooth.
6. By hand, mix in enough of the remaining flour to make a firm, but not sticky dough.
7. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes).
8. Grease a large bowl, and place the dough inside, turning to grease the dough all over.
9. Cover with a cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about one hour).
10. Punch down dough.
11. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead into 48 equal rolls.
12. Place on well greased cookie sheets 2 inches apart and let rise 1 1/2 - 2 hours (until more than doubled in size. Dough will be very light).
13. Bake 375ºF for 15-20 minutes.
14. Brush hot roll tops with a little butter after they come out of the oven.
15. 1Extra info: Humidity always plays a key in making bread or rolls. Rainy days require more flour than sunny, dry days. Bread rolls and Loaves are done when inserted thermometer reads 190ºF.