Yummy Dinner Rolls

Adapted from Taste of Home, from one of the My Mom's Most Memorable Meal articles. I made these for Thanksgiving and they were very good - light, fluffy, and they make a large amount. After cooking, brush with a little extra melted butter while still warm to give them shiny tops, if desired. Plan ahead as these have 2 rises and you will also need two 9x13" pans.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 25 mins
• Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 4 1⁄2 teaspoons active dry yeast (2 envelopes)
• 1⁄2 cup  lukewarm water
• 1  teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1⁄3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1⁄4 cups milk, lukewarm
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 2  large eggs, beaten
• 6 -6 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour, as needed

Directions

1. Combine yeast with water and 1 tsp sugar, set aside for 5-10 minutes or until frothy (if yeast doesn't froth, then it is dead- either you need fresh yeast or your water was too hot and killed the yeast).
2. Add warm milk (again- warm, but not too hot or yeast will die), melted cooled butter,remaining 1/3 cup sugar, eggs, and just 3 cups of the flour.
3. Beat mixture until smooth- either with a dough hook in an electric mixer or using a spoon.
4. Next, this time using a spoon even if you have a mixer, stir in enough flour to form a soft dough ball (depending upon the hunidity of the day, you will need more or less flour).
5. Turn dough onto a floured board and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, additional additional flour if needed to keep from sticking.
6. Place ina a lightly greased large bowl and then flip the dough over to coat top; cover with plastic wrap that has been greased (I use nonstick spray) and let rise in a warm place until doubled- about 1 hour.
7. Punch dough down, then place ona lightly floured board and divide inhalf.
8. Now divide each half into 12 pieces, shaping each piece into a ball.
9. Place 12 dough balls each into two 9x13" greased baking pans.
10. Cover as before and let rise until doubled, 30 minutes to an hour.
11. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 20-25 minutes or untilgolden brown.
12. Best served warm.