Honey Buns

1/2 cup orange juice

2 tbs salt

1/4 cup soft shortening

3/4 cup honey, divided

1/2 cup mashed sweet potatoes

2 pkg dry yeast

2 eggs

3-1/4 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup melted butter or margarine

2 cups chopped pecans or raisins

Heat orange juice to lukewarm; add salt, shortening, 1/4 cup honey, and sweet potatoes. Mix well, and add yeast. When yeast is dissolved, add eggs and beat well. Add flour; mix until soft dough forms. Knead dough gently in bowl.

Form dough into ball, and put in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in warm place (85F) until dough is light and doubled in bulk (about 1-1/2 hours).

Combine butter, 1/2 cup honey, and pecans. Spread over bottom of 2 greased 8 x 12 inch baking pans.

Turn dough out onto floured board; divide in half and fit into pans over honey-nut mixture. Using 2 well-greased sharp knives, cut each pan of dough into 15 buns. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk (30 minutes). Bake at 325F for 25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before turning out on racks or serving plate.

Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.