Activate yeast. Combine warm water, yeast, and 1 tsp. of sugar in small bowl. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes. Yeast should be bubbly and have doubled in size.

In a large bowl, stir together sugar, milk, melted shortening, salt and the egg yolk. Stir in yeast mixture. Add 1 cup of sifted bread flour at a time until 3 cups are added. Stir until a sticky dough starts to form.

Sprinkle the remaining ⅓ cup bread flour on a hard work surface, turn the dough out onto the surface and knead for 10-12 minutes. Dough will be sticky and elastic. Transfer dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.

Punch dough down. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Shape dough into a 11” X 12 “rectangle. Using a pastry or pizza cutter, cut dough evenly into twelve 3” X 3” squares.

Place sausage in center of each piece of dough. You can flatten dough a little more if needed. Bring sides around sausage and pinch in the center the to form a seam. You are trying to have more dough on top than the bottom. Pull and stretch top and bottom dough around sausage and pinch to merge with center seam.

Place filled sausage kolaches seam side down on a lightly greased baking sheet at least 1-2 inches apart. Brush liberally with melted butter. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

Bake in preheated oven at 350F for 30-35 minutes or until tops are golden brown and sausage is reheated. Remove from oven and brush with additional melted butter. Let kolaches cool for 10 minutes.