1. Add yeast to cup of lukewarm water and sprinkle in a little sugar, set aside for about 5 minutes.
2. Add shortening, sugar, and salt to hot water and cool to lukewarm. Stir in 2 cups of flour and mix until smooth. Add yeast and mix again until smooth. Add in beaten eggs.
3. Stir in remainder of flour, a little at a time until no more can be mixed in. Remove the mixer attachment and knead by hand until dough is smooth.
4. Cover and let rise for 30 min. Lightly knead and roll out until it's about 1/4" think and covers the cutting board (may need to break off a portion and roll out to just this rectangular shape) Spread with softened butter, sprinkle on brown sugar, raisins, and cinnamon until it covers the entire area....the more the better.
5. Roll it from the bottom to the top so it is a long roll from one end of the cutting board to the other, cut into pieces that are about 2"-3" (they will rise quite a bit).
6. Place on well greased pans and for best results let them rise again sitting in the pans for maybe 15-30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 min. or so (check until light brown so they're cooked all the way through). It is best if you space them out before rising/cooking because if you don't the middle ones won't cook all the way through...about 5 in an 8x8 pan is great.
7. Frosting ~ You can use ready made vanilla frosting or make traditional frosting from powdered sugar.
If you have never done that just mix maybe 1/2 stick of butter, powdered sugar and thin it out with a bit of milk and vanilla to taste....really it is just by the look of it and how thick you like it as far as measuring goes.