soft pretzels

here's a recipe for homemade pretzels. I made them last night--they were a huge hit....so i made them for dinner tonight too. =) here's the recipe. it's so easy and you don't have to boil them!!

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 tablespoon yeast

2 tablespoons brown sugar

stir together and set aside

a pinch of salt

3 cups flour

1 cup bread flour

mix and add the yeasty mixture. set in a greased bowl and let rest for an hour. measure 2 cups of tap water and stir in 2 tablespoons baking soda. divide the dough into 12 piece and roll out ropes. twist once and fold ends under (at the bottom). dunk the pretzel in the soda water--be sure to submerge. place on cookie sheet (i found it helpful to cook on parchment paper...the clean up is WAY easier!). preheat the oven to 450*, letting the pretzels rise while it heats up. bake for 8-10 minutes. remove from sheet and butter. sprinkle with salt, cinnamon sugar, parmesan, or your other favorite topping.

(before buttering)

(sesame seeds and salt)

(salt on one, cinnamon sugar on the other)