Gloom Busting Pretzels

I find that the best way to deal with the doldrums is to make something. We haven't seen the sun much around here lately, and that makes the world seem very gloomy and tiring. Today we made some big, soft pretzels to try to break through the clouds. It worked. 

Now these pretzels are more like super-soft, salty rolls than those dried-up flavorless things that are generally called soft pretzels. If you are a fan of delicious flavor, you'll like these:

Gloom Busting Pretzels (makes 12)

3 cups warm water

2 Tbs dried yeast

~10 cups flour

2 Tbs brown sugar

4 tsp salt

2 eggs

8 Tbs (1 stick) butter, melted

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2 Tbs baking soda

2 cups warm water

Kosher salt, for sprinkling

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. 

2. Mix wet ingredients, then yeast, then dry ingredients together in a stand mixer. Knead for 5-7 minutes on medium speed. The dough should come together in a ball, but still be soft. 

3. Allow the dough to rise until doubled in bulk.

4. Dump the dough out of the bowl and divide into 12 equal-ish pieces. Don't get all uptight here and weigh out the pieces or anything.

5. Mix the baking soda and 2 cups of warm water in a bowl. 

6. Roll out one piece of the dough into a long snake. You will need to use your play-dough skills here. Try to make your snake about 24 inches long, but don't you dare break out a ruler.

7. Drop the snake into the soda water bath while you roll out the next snake.

8. Fish that first snake out of its bath and shape it into something pretzel-like on the baking sheet. Toss the second snake into its bath.

9. I think you get the idea now. After you've finished making all of your lovely pretzel shapes, sprinkle them with the kosher salt and slide them right into the oven for about 12 min.

10. Eat, you look too thin.

- recipe adapted from "Giant Bavarian Pretzels" www.rachaelraymag.com

 

Comments

[Carrie]

This is the best post ever. I laughed out loud a number of times. I really like step 10. And I am going to make these, and soon. Because I am definitely a fan of delicious flavor.

BTW, in the 1st sentence it says "day" instead of "way." I tried to ignore it, but you know how I am.

[Heather]

Thanks. You can be my official editor. You've earned it.

[Becky]

That's a great picture! Makes me hungry for some pretzel deliciousness.

[Dan Kulp]

i just ate 2 bagels and this makes me hungry still.

[tammyo]

pretzels are one of my favorite snacks. nothing cheers up a dreary day like baked goods.