Chilly Piggies {Tender Rolls}

"Tender Rolls"
("Tasha rolls" according to Cynthia)

{story below}
Here's the original Pigs-in-a-blanket recipee without the pigs:

1 package yeast (that's 2 1/4 tsp for all you jar users)
1/3 cup sugar AND 1tsp sugar for yeast
2/3 cups milk (110-115 degrees)
1 egg, beaten
2 Tbs plus 2tsp melted shortening
1 tsp salt
3-2/3 cup flour (really just as much as you need to make dough that is easy to handle)





Mix yeast, water, and milk, and 1tsp sugar together.

Let the yeast do its thing while you mix
egg, shortening, salt, the rest of the sugar in a large bowl.

Mix in yeast mixture when it is ready.

Add in flour in small increments.
If you are mixing with one of those amazing Kitchen-Aid mixers with a dough hook, this is really easy, and no kneading is required.
Otherwise, get the dough to the point where it is difficult to stir and easy to handle, and knead out on a foured surface, adding four to your need until you can poke the dough with out getting sticky and it is nice and elastic-like.

Place in oiled bowl, flip once to oil surface of dough, cover with cloth and let rise for 1 hour in warm spot.

Start thinking about a half hour later
to preheat the oven 350.

Punch down dough, form as desired onto a oiled baking sheet.

For fancy, slice the top of your rolls or loaves and splash on an egg wash (just a beaten egg, you can add some water too)  and throw some oatmeal on top.

You can let it rise for another 30 min. if you want before
baking it for 15-17 minutes.

If making loaves, about 20.

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When I was unable to reach my mother by telephone to acquire her biscuit recipe to go along with some chili I was making, I decided to peruse the 1999 April/May Taste of Home sitting next to me. Their "getting into the theme of things" page featured a barn-yard craze and a lovely pigs in a blanket recipe. However, I did not want the pigs, and proceed to make the dough into rolls.

I was so delighted that they tasted like my mom's knot rolls she makes at thanksgiving! All the rolls were gone that night, except for one I hid for next day's lunch, and made so I made these loaves 2 days later. Enjoy!