Did you eat the last pretzel?!!!

My Hubby and I spent most of this Holiday season break loungin' around drinking beer and watching movie marathons in our PJ's. I know I know. . .

So that's what I have been spending most of my time doing. I must say that we needed the quality time together, because I'm usually in my studio and he's downstairs in his "man-hole" or admiring his new car and tinkering in the garage. So. . . usually when drinking and watching movies we get the urge to munch on some "snackie-cakes" as we call it. Hubby says one night, "OOOH, you know what would be good? Soft Pretzels!!!" We had all of the ingredients except for yeast. So upon getting out of the house and going to the grocery store, I picked some up.

Saturday night we spent the evening in our PJ's again drinking beer, watching movies and making pretzels! I must say it was lots of fun, rolling our "dough snakes" and laughing at each other. And they turned out so amazing!!! I felt like Mrs. Diana Evans cooking up a storm in the kitchen! And the whole house carried the intoxicating smell of fresh baked bread, yummy!

Ok, so here are directions for making "Soft Buttery Pretzels".

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 (I'd do slightly less, it's easier to knead the dough and form pretzels)
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup baking soda
4 cups hot water
1/4 cup sea salt
butter or butter flavored cooking spray

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 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. Once all of the dough is shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with sea salt.

5. Bake in preheated oven for 6 minutes or until browned.

6. Dip into melted butter, or add your favorite topping, or better yet, both!

(I lightly sprayed mine with butter flavored cooking spray and enjoyed with dijon mustard. Cinnamon and sugar is good too!)