Reliably Remarkable Rolls

Set a large pot of water to heat on the stove (probably won't have time to boil, but turn off at boiling if it does)

Mix 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon (kosher) salt in with 1 cup of milk in large plastic bowl

After mixed, add 1 stick butter. Microwave 30 seconds at a time until the butter starts to melt.

Slosh around until butter is melted or until another 30 seconds is necessary.

Mixture should be slightly warmer than skin but not hot.

Mix in 4 cups of flour and 2 + 1/4 teaspoons dry active yeast

Add two eggs, beat in place then stir into mixture (you can leave these out and still get rolls)

Mix with hands until gummy and be sure to roll around the bowl to pick up all ingredients

(You should be able to have the dough basically clean the bowl for you)

Kneed for (at least) 10 minutes by picking up a side and mashing it into the center

(10 min in mixer with a bread hook works too)

Cover bowl, add damp towel if the bowl doesn't have a lid, or leave a wet and folded paper towel stuck to the bottom of the lid and held up by the corners of the bowl if it does.

Oil a cooking pan.

Place dough bowl, cooking pan and hot water in oven and allow to rise for 1 hr.

Dough should approximately double in size.

Oil your hands. Squeeze dough into two, then four then eight then sixteen portions. (They should be about the size of ping pong balls.)

Press each wad of dough through a small circle made with your index finger and thumb to get nice round balls of dough, then set bumpy end down in the cooking pan.

Allow to rise in oven with pan of water again with a damp towel over them if possible for 30 minutes.

Remove pan of rolls from oven and preheat to 375.

Cook at 375 for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes.