Thanksgiving Cottage Cheese Rolls

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 teaspoons yeast (2 packets)
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 cups small curd cottage cheese
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• butter, for greasing pie plates

Directions

1. 1

   Sprinkle yeast into warm water, stir well and set aside for a few minutes to sponge.

2. 2

   While that's working, heat cottage cheese in the microwave (warm to the touch), then combine in a large bowl, with sugar, salt, soda, eggs and ONE cup flour; add yeast-water and beat for TWO minutes.

3. 3

   Add remaining flour--ONE CUP AT A TIME--beating well after each addition.

4. 4

   Sprinkle some extra flour on a table-top, knead dough for 30 seconds, into a SMOOTH ball; set aside.

5. 5

   Preheat oven to 100 (yes, 100) degrees--then turn it OFF; fill a smaller mixing bowl with HOTTEST tap water and place on bottom of oven (under the lowest rack); turn ON the oven LIGHT.

6. 6

   Generously grease a large mixing bowl; then place dough into large greased bowl and twist dough ball around so all of dough has a bit of grease on it; lightly cover bowl with square of plastic wrap.

7. 7

   Place covered bowl in warm oven; let dough rise until DOUBLED.

8. 8

   Melt butter in a shallow bowl; butter THREE pie plates; set aside.

9. 9

   Remove dough from warm spot, place on floured table-top.

10. 10

    Using a sharp knife, divide dough ball in HALF, then each half into half again (for a total of four balls). Divide each of the four balls into SIX smaller portions (24 altogether).

11. 11

    Form each portion into a ball (fold edges snugly into bottom--it's okay to squish them gently), then holding onto that bottom stuff, dip the ball (head first!) into melted butter.

12. 12

    Place EIGHT balls into each pie plate; drizzle leftover butter over the rolls.

13. 13

    Cover each pie plate lightly with plastic, return pans to warm oven (refill the water if necessary); let rise until doubled again.

14. 14

    At end of rise time, remove pans and water bowl from oven; set rolls out of drafty spots---then. . .

15. 15

    Preheat oven to 350; bake pans for 20 minutes (tops will be golden brown).

16. 16

    Serve warm or cooled, with or without butter.