Potato Dinner Rolls

I found this recipe in a folder I started adding to years ago.  This recipe looks so much like the one used by Jeanette-- I wonder if this was a handout from a church meeting a long time ago.  Maybe it was from her!  If so, that just means it will always be a winner.  Yes, a keeper!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup additional sugar
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed potatoes (no liquid added to them)
• 2 and 1/2 cups potato water (from the boiling process)
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 cups flour
• 4 more cups of flour (about)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Dissolve yeast in bowl with the 1 tsp. sugar and set aside until frothy and bubbly.
2. Mix together the 1/2 cup sugar, salt, mashed potatoes, potato water and shortening.  (This could be beaten with a hand mixer to blend well.)
3. Add the 'rising' yeast mixture.
4. Add first flour (3 cups).  Mix well.  Let this rest for about 5 minutes.
5. Gradually, add the remaining amount of flour (not all at once).  Do not add more flour than recipe calls for.
6. Put into greased bowl and turn to grease top.  Cover bowl and let rise until doubled. 
7. Place 'doubled' dough on generously floured board.
8. If necessary, sift a tiny bit of flour over the dough so it won't stick to your fingers.
9. Now, you can break pieces off and shape into 'balls', or you can just cut off 'squares of dough' with a spatula and put them onto a greased or parchment paper-lined baking pan. 
10. Let rise slightly.
11. Bake 13-15 minutes in oven preheated to 350-degrees.