ENGLISH MUFFINS

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in the sugar and shortening, stirring until dissolved.
• Let cool until lukewarm.
• In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour with instant yeast.
• To flour mixture stir in milk, water, and 3 cups flour.
• Beat until smooth.
• Add salt and rest of flour, or enough to make a soft dough.
• Knead until satiny and smooth.
• Place in greased bowl, turn the dough and cover and let rise until double in size.
• Punch down.
• Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick.
• Cut rounds with biscuit cutter, drinking glass, muffin ring or empty tuna can (see note below).
• Sprinkle waxed paper with cornmeal and set the rounds on this to rise. Dust tops of muffins with cornmeal.
• Cover and let rise 1/2 hour.
• Heat griddle.
• Spray griddle (and rings if using) with non stick cooking spray.
• Preheat griddle to 300 degree F.
• Place muffins on griddle and cook for 6-8 minutes on each side.
• Hint: Cover with pan lid or cookie sheet (if using rings); this helps to ensure that they are not doughy inside.
• Allow to cool and place in plastic bags for storage.
• *Cook's Note: Small tuna cans with tops and bottoms removed work well for metal rings.