Basic Sweet Dough - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 1/4 to 4 3/4 c. flour
1/2 c. warm water
1 pkg. active dry yeast
3/4 c. lukewarm milk
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs
1/4 tsp. yellow food coloring

Preparation

Soak yeast in 1/2 cup water for 5 minutes.
Combine milk, sugar and salt in large mixing bowl; stir to dissolve.
Beat in shortening, eggs, yeast mixture and 1 cup flour; mix until smooth. Add remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, and mix until dough leaves sides of bowl.
Turn out onto floured board.
Knead until dough becomes smooth, elastic and no longer sticky, using flour as needed.
Place in lightly greased bowl; grease top lightly, cover and let rise in warm place until double in size (1 to 1 1/2 hours for each time you raise it).
Divide into desired shapes and rise and bake.