Do Not Make These!!!

These are ridiculous and if you make them your waist line will regret it.


It all started with Facebook. Well, way before that actually. It started in grade school. That's where I first met Michele. Michele's family and mine had a common parallel. She grew up in a family of 6 girls and 1 boy. As you may know, my family is comprised of the opposite... 6 boys and me! Yes, I know, that's kinda comical, but if you think of the odds it's even funnier. We all went to the same school. The same small school. No, I mean S M A L L. ... as in 30 (or so) kids in K thru 12th!!!! I should insert, that since I'm the youngest in my clan, most of my brothers were already finished with school at this stage. (the school was not comprised of only our two families.)

Anyway, I have Michele's little facebook post about using these pretzles for a reward for her daughter, to thank for this recipe.

I need some practice on my shaping skills.


My first attempt is on the left. The one on the right is later on with some practice!


Baking.


Oh, yeah!


They were amazing. A M A Z I N G. I let the boys sprinkle their own cinnamon sugar on them after I brushed them with margarine.


I think this guy liked them too. He was away at a Preaching Conference and I welcomed him home with these!

Captions for this picture anyone???

Buttery Soft Pretzels from the kitchen of my sweet friend from childhood - Michele

INGREDIENTS

4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
•
•
•
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 2 cups hot water
• 1/4 cup kosher salt, for topping
• cinnamon and sugar mixture for topping or whatever else you want on your pretzels
DIRECTIONS
1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.
4. When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned. (Mine don’t ever take 8 minutes, but I am sure that depends on the oven.)
6. When out of oven brush with melted butter and sprinkle on kosher salt or cinnamon sugar mixture or any other toppings that you desire.
7. Enjoy!!
8. I do mine in my bread machine and it works fine.

- Thanks Michele you're a precious friend