Tie 'em up!

A few weeks ago I found a recipe for homemade pretzels like Auntie Annie's. And my pregnant mind thought, "I MUST HAVE THEM." Last night the Other went out for Korean food (in which my pregnant mind said, "Puke!") so I thought it was the perfect time to give them a try.

The ingredients are pretty basic (except maybe bread flour...but I have that). After mixing them together, it forms a nice ball. I kneaded it for 5 minutes and let it relax for 5 more minutes. Then I cut it into 6 sections.



Then Monty helped me roll them all into "snakes" and we shaped them to look like pretzels. While I was doing this I thought it would be a really fun birthday party idea to have kids make their own special shape. Or to make them smaller, you could just roll them into small sticks.



After they are shaped, I had to boil them. I thought this was an odd step, but after baking I could tell that boiling them made the outside crispy once baked. I just simmered some water and added baking soda, set the dough in the water and Monty helped me count to 5. Once they are floating, I put them on a greased cookie sheet (next time I need to grease it more...) and I sprinkled them with some Kosher salt. The Kosher salt we have has big grains, which is exactly what you'd get from your favorite pretzel place.



I baked them for 12 minutes and they came out looking like this:





They were SOOOO good. Monty ate his plain and loved them (he ate the two "baby ones") and I had mine with some cream cheese. This will be a returning recipe. I even saved one for the Other and he loved them, too!

I have to give props to my little helper:



He was so excited to make "snakes" and count and sprinkle salt. What a good little guy...

By Request, here is the recipe:


2-3 cups bread flour
1 tsp yeast
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 cup warm milk (110 degrees, or about a minute in the micro)
1 tsp. salt

Mix all of these together until they form a ball. Start with 2 cups of flour and then add it a tablespoon at a time until it becomes workable with your hands.

Knead the dough for 5 to 10 minutes. Let it relax for 5 more minutes

Meanwhile, get a pot of water and 4 tbsp. baking soda to a simmer.

Cut your dough into 6 pieces. Roll them into "snakes" and make the pretzel shape. Carefully, with a spatula, dunk the pretzels into the simmering water for 5 seconds. They should begin to float.

Take them out and place them on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with Kosher salt and bake for 12 to 14 minutes at 425 degrees.