Easy Peasy Homemade Rolls

Gotta love it when you're in charge of the rolls for Thanksgiving dinner!  For some reason, this became my assigned contribution years ago, and now it's something everyone looks forward to and asks for every year.  Yes.  They're that good.  And very simple to make, even if you're a newbie!

Ingredients:
     1/2 cup warm water
     2 packets yeast ( I swear by the generic stuff!)
     1 tsp. sugar

     2 cups warm water
     1/2 cup melted butter
     1/2 cup sugar
     2 tsp. salt
     2 beaten eggs
     6 cups flour

Instructions:

In a small bowl, add 1/2 cup warm water.  (I turn my faucet as hot as it will go, but my temperature maxes out at the safety level for little kids.  Whatever that is.  Water should feel hot, but not burn.)  Open yeast packets and shake on top of water, but do not stir.  Shake 1 tsp. sugar on top of yeast, again not stirring.  Let sit until proofed.  (about 10-15 minutes until mixture looks something like this.....

While you're waiting for the yeast to get all bubbly..... in a large bowl combine 2 cups warm water, melted butter, 1/2 cup sugar, salt and the beaten eggs.  Add the yeast mixture as soon as it's done and stir.
Then add four cups of flour and mix.  I do all of this with a fork, and it works really well!  So, don't let lack of a mixer be an excuse not to make these.  ;-) Let the dough mixture stand for 30 minutes and it will look something like this.....

Add two more cups of flour and mix well.  Refrigerate overnight.  Flour your hands and roll small balls of dough out like a snake.  Kids LOVE to help with this part!  Then I tie the dough in a knot.  Literally.  Tucking one end into the middle on top and one end on the bottom like this.....

Place rolls onto a baking stone, or cookie sheets work too.  Brush tops with melted butter and allow to rise for approximately two hours.  (Rolls should double in size.)  Bake at 375 degrees for 10- 15 minutes or until tops are golden brown.  Brush hot rolls with a little bit more butter.

Seriously, melt in your mouth delicious!  But be careful.  If you make them once, you may end up making them all the time!!!