Clipping coupons and cooking great food are my two most favorite hobbies.
So with the suggestion of friends, I have created this blog. I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing. But I'm trying it out.

Yesterday I made soft pretzels. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 large egg

Instructions

1. Combine the warm water, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes. Add the flour and butter and using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl. Remove the dough from the bowl, and place the dough in a glass bowl oiled with vegetable oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
2. Divide the dough into 16 pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 12 inch rope. Using a sharp knife, cut rope into 1 inch pieces.
   
   
   NEXT!
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Using a large sauce pan, fill with water. Bring the water to a boil and add the baking soda.
3. Place the pretzels into the boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Place pretzels on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silpat mat.
4. Beat one large egg. Brush the top of each pretzel bite with the beaten egg. I sprinkled half of mine with course sea salt, and left the other half plain. 
5. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 6-8 minutes.