Put milk and butter in a microwaveable dish and microwave for 1 minute, until the butter has melted

Preheat oven to 170F

Add dough hook to stand mixer and combine milk/butter, water, sugar, salt, and 1 cup flour and mix on setting 2 for one minute

Add yeast and mix in for 30 seconds

Add the rest of the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough scrapes bowl clean

Mix on medium, setting 4, for 5 minutes

Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 5 minutes

Grease 9x13 pan with butter

Cut dough into 12 chunks, forming into dough balls

Place dough balls in the greased pan

Bake for 20 minutes or until they have risen about 1 inch

Increase oven temp to 350F and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown

Remove from the oven

Brush with softened butter (optional)