Pumpkin Rolls

This is Amy Dorothy Nelson Thompson's recipe for pumpkin rolls. I am adding it in August 2011 when Dorothy May Thompson Chadwick found it among Amy's papers. It was based on a recipe by a Mrs. Martinez in Penasco, NM. Amy taught school in Penasco in the 1950s.

I've copied it as she wrote it.

Here's a photo of the Martinez family:

Soak yeast in 1/4 cup lukewarm water.

Combine 1/2 c shortening, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 c sugar

Add 3/4 c boiling water and stir to melt shortening

Add 1/4 c milk

Stir in dissolved yeast and 1/2 c flour

Beat in 1 egg, 1 1/2 c pumpkin, currants, anise seed, and 1 c flour

Continue to add flour to make a stiff dough

Knead until satiny

Let raise until double in bulk (About 1 hour)

Work down. If time let raise again and make into rolls

Let raise until double in bulk (About 1/2 hour)

Bake at 400° - 20 min or less