In a medium sauce pan, combine the milk, butter, sugar, and salt. Stir to combine.
Heat over medium heat, just until the butter melts. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add the warm water and yeast. Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes.
When the milk has cooled to less than 110 degrees F, add it to the water and yeast mixture. Stir to combine.
Add the flour, one cup at a time, stirring well to combine after each addition, until no longer sticky.
Turn the dough onto a well-floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes.
Place the dough back in the bowl, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 12-cup muffin tin well.
Remove the dough from the bowl, and cut it into 12 pieces.
Divide each of the 12 pieces into 3 smaller pieces. Roll the smaller pieces of dough into balls, and place three small pieces of dough into each muffin cup.
Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the rolls are golden-brown on the top. Remove tin from the oven, and rub the tops of the hot rolls with a stick of butter.
Let the rolls rest in the tin for 10 minutes, and then remove the rolls from the muffin tin. Place them on a wire rack to cool.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Margarine can be substituted for the butter in this recipe.
I have had great luck using half all-purpose and half whole-wheat flour in this recipe.
Store them at room temperature in a breadbox or paper bag to cut down on moisture loss.
The shaping is so simple that this is a great recipe for kids to help make. Just divide the dough and shape into balls, placing three little balls in each muffin tin space.