Grandma Etta's Parker House Rolls

Nothing tastes like the holidays more to me than my Grandma Etta's Parkerhouse rolls.  She would always give me a heads up when they'd be coming out of the oven and I'd sit there with her eating fresh warm bread slathered with her home made jam...nothing tasted better.  Well, my mother carried on the tradition of making them for out family, and well, now it's my turn!

Now, don't be fooled...getting the recipe was no small feat.  Not that these women in my life refused to hand it over, but none of them really write things down.  My mother was finally able to cobble together my grandmother's recipe and then when she gave it to me, it was full of instructions like "use water that's hot enough",  "let it rise until you're ready to cook them" or "cook them 'til they're done"....okay, thanks for the details Mom.  So, I've worked through some of those finer points and I present to you my Grandma Etta's Refrigerator Rolls (as she always called them.)

Mrs Folks

1 cup boiling water

½ cup shortening

¼ cup plus 1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 pkg. dry yeast

½ cup warm water, 110 degrees

1 egg

4 cups flour

Mix boiling water, shortening, ¼ cup sugar and salt in small bowl; let cool.  Dissolve yeast and remaining sugar in warm water in large bowl; add egg and 2 cups flour.  Mix well with spoon.  Add cooled mixture and remaining flour; mix well. Cover.  Refrigerate overnight or until doubled in size.  Knead on floured board and roll out to 1/4" thick. Cut into circles with biscuit cutter or water glass. Brush with melted butter and fold over on itself to create a half circle.  Place roll in pan. Repeat, placing rolls side by side until pan is full. Cover with tea towel and let rise in a warm place until double again.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Brush with more melted butter.  Immediately hide some so there will be some left for dinner.