In small bowl, dissolve yeast in lukewarm water, stir in 1 tsp. sugar. Let stand 5 min. In mixer bowl, beat shortening with ½ cup sugar, egg, salt, cooled milk and dissolved yeast. Stir in flour a little at a time until dough is stiff enough to knead. Knead by hand for 8 min. or until smooth and elastic. Cut dough into 4 equal pieces. Place 3 dough pieces in greased bowl. Place 1 dough piece in a separate greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled.

Cover an upside-down tall glass vase with parchment paper. Punch down larger portion of dough. Roll dough to ½-inch thickness on floured surface. Cut into 1-inch-wide strips. Wrap strips of dough around flower vase starting at bottom. Pinch ends together to seal. Wrap strips around vase until a small hole at the top remains.

Roll a ball of dough the size of your hole and place it on top of hive. Cover with a clean towel and let rise until pillowy.

Roll out small portion of dough from the other bowl on a floured surface. Cut 3 medium-sized squares and place on parchment-lined cookie sheet. Poke squares all over with wooden skewer to create a honeycomb look. Using medium-sized tear-shaped cookie cutter, cut out desired amounts of bee bodies from remaining dough. Cut two tear-shaped wings for each bee, using a small tear-shaped cookie cutter. Roll out long thin line of dough and cut 2 inches long for antennas. Each bee will need 2 antennas. On parchment-lined cookie sheet, place bee bodies pointed side down. Slide wings under bee body, one on each side. Slide two antennas under bee head, curving antennas down for desired look. Press down on bee body where antennas and wings attach. Mix egg white and water. Brush bee body with egg white mixture. Using a pinch of poppy seeds, make two lines and a stinger on each bee body. Cover with a clean towel and let rise until pillowy.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Remove top rack from large oven to bake the hive. Bake for 25-30 min. or until golden brown rotating halfway through. In separate oven, bake the bees and honeycomb for 15-20 min. or until golden brown. Once cooled, remove the vase and parchment paper from the hive. Poke a pretzel stick into bee and push other end in the hive. Space bees and honeycomb as desired.