Add yeast and sugar to warm water and let sit for 3-5 minutes
Add melted butter (cooled), milk, eggs and salt to yeast mixture
In a large bowl combine flour and sugar. Stir until combined
Using your hand to crumble shortening into flour until it is barely noticeable
Pour liquid yeast mixture into flour mixture
Using a large wooden spoon, stir until well combined.
When dough starts to come together, ditch the spoon and use your hand to knead the dough for approx. 2 minutes until it comes together in a nice ball.
Place dough in a warm area, covered, until it doubles in size. (I do this in my oven. While mixing the dough I heat the oven to 195 degrees. Then I turn the oven off right before I put the covered dough in. This step cuts back on time dramatically. Dough will be doubled in 15-30 minutes.)
After dough has doubled in size, punch it down and knead with your hands one more time for 2 minutes. If the dough is a bit sticky sprinkle it with flour as needed.
Prepare pans and form dough into 2-inch balls and place onto cooking sheets. I like rolls to be touching so I have to pull them apart when they are done. If you don’t like that place them at least 1-2 inches apart on your cooking sheet. I cook mine close together in 9×13 pans.
When dough is formed into rolls and placed on pans, cover and allow to rise until it is almost doubled again. I put my pans on top of the oven while it is preheating, and this step usually only takes 15-20 minutes.