Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

2 pkg (4 1/2 tsp) active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup 1% milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
6 Tbsp butter, room temp
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp sea salt
1 egg
4 - 5 cups flour
1 egg white, beaten
2 - 3 Tbsp butter, melted
16 - 17 pecan halves, cut in half

In a small bowl, mix yeast and 1 tsp sugar with the hot water. Set aside for about 5 minutes, until foamy.
While yeast is proofing: in a large pot, mix milk and cream. Heat until steaming but not boiling. Remove from heat and add in butter. Stir until melted.
Stir in pumpkin, sugars, and salt.
Stir in the foamy yeast.
Stir in egg until everything is well combined.
Gradually stir in flour, about 1/2 cup at a time until soft dough forms. Scoop dough onto well floured work surface and knead until smooth and not sticky - you may need to add in a bit more flour.
Place dough into an oiled bowl.
Cover with a tea towel and set in warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
When dough has risen, punch down and scoop dough onto floured work surface.
Cut dough in half. Cover one half of the dough with the tea towel while you work with the other half.
Take the half in front of you and divide it into 16 equal pieces. (You can eyeball this as they don't have to be perfect!) Roll each piece into a ball and then slightly flatten the ball with the palm of your hands.
Cut 8 slits around the outside of each flattened ball, being careful not to cut all the way into the center.
In the center of the ball make a good indent with your pinky finger. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet.
Repeat with the other half of dough that you had set aside.
Cover the rolls with clean tea towels and set somewhere warm to rise for another 45 minutes, until doubled again.
Preheat oven to 350.
After dough has risen again, you will need to press the indent into the middle of the rolls again with your pinky as they tend to disappear. (In the photo below, the first row has been re-pressed and the others have not.)
Using a pastry or basting brush, gently brush the beaten egg white over the tops of the rolls.
Place in 350 oven and bake 15 - 20 minutes, until tops of rolls are golden. Remove from oven and place on wire rack.
Using a pastry or basting brush, brush the tops of the baked rolls with some melted butter. This makes the rolls shiny.
Lastly, place a piece of a pecan into the center for the stem.