Potato Rolls

Every year for Thanksgiving my mom would traditionally make these CUTE rolls that she would make to look like turkeys! This recipe is actually one I got from a friend when I was at college!

****WARNING: This is an OVERNIGHT recipe****

INGREDIENTS

1 package (2 TBSP) yeast
1 1/2 Cups Warm Water
2/3 Cup Sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
2/3 Cup shortening (or butter)
2 Eggs
1 Cup Lukewarm Mashed Potatoes
6 1/2-7 Cups All Purpose Flour

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl dissolve yeast in warm water. For those who have not worked with yeast before, what I do is make the water from my sink as hot as possible, it seems to work well! In a large mixing bowl combine sugar, salt, shortening, eggs, potatoes, and 4 cups of flour. Mix until smooth. Add yeast-water mix. Mix in enough of the remaining flour until the dough is easy to handle (the least amount you have to use is best. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

Place in a greased bowl (I usually use my largest mixing bowl and using a paper towel I wipe shortening all over to grease the bowl); turn greased side up. Cover bowl tightly and refrigerate over night. Punch it down occasionally.

When ready to use punch down the dough.

*For normal rolls I shape the dough into about 2-inch balls and place them on a greased cookie sheet between 1/2-inch to 1-inch apart.*

For nice fluffy rolls I have found it is best to allow the rolls to rise for about an hour.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush the rolls with butter and by the time the oven is preheated the rolls are good to go in the oven!

Bake for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes then put them on a wire rack for another 10 minutes.

*To make the rolls look like turkey's shape dough into about 1 1/2-inch balls, place in greased muffin pan. Then to make the "head" and "tail feathers" you will roll the dough in your hands to make a "snake" (like you did when you were little playing with play dough). Break four pieces about an inch long and place three in the back and one in the front. (Follow the rest of the directions above for cooking)*