Sunday

homemade italian soft pretzels~

My sister Cheryl at  http://chershots.blogspot.com  made homemade soft pretzels ... she inspired me into giving it a try.  Like her... I tweaked around and came up with my own recipe.  Give them a try ... they are a lot easier than you might think.

Here's my recipe:

Homemade Italian Soft Pretzels

1 1/2 Cups warm water
1 Tblsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. dry yeast
1/2 tsp. granulated garlic
1/2 tsp. dried marjoram
1/2 tsp.  dried thyme
4 1/2 Cups flour
1/4 Cup melted butter

Vegetable spray for the pans

10 cups of water
2 heaping Tablespoons of baking soda

1 large egg yolk beaten
Course gourmet salt

DIRECTIONS:

Combine the 1 1/2 cups of water, sugar, salt, garlic, marjoram and thyme in a large bowl.  Sprinkle the yeast on top.  Allow to sit for 5 minutes until the yeast is foamy.  Add the flour and melted butter.

Turn out on to a floured board and knead for 5 minutes.  Return to bowl and cover and let rise until doubled.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
Give 2 cookie sheets a heavy spraying with vegetable oil

In a large kettle bring 10 cups of water to a boil.  Add the baking soda and continue to boil.

In the meantime, turn the dough on to a oiled board or counter top and divide into 8 or 16 equal parts (depending on the size of pretzels you want).  Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope.  Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press the tail piece to the bottom of the U forming a pretzel shape.

Place the pretzels into the boiling soda water for 30 seconds.  They will sink when you drop them in and then float.  Remove from the water with a flat spatula and place onto the well sprayed cooking sheets.

Brush with the beaten egg yolk wash and sprinkle with course salt.
Bake until golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes.

~~

Until next time...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel

9 comments:

  1. Until we started traveling I thought all pretzels were those salt covered knot looking brown things.
    Then once in PA or the North EAst, don't know where, Sherry bought one of Aunt somebodies, or Grandma something pretzels and we love them. But WE won't try these. OUr oven seems to kick the breakers, but Mel, these look and sound delicious!!!!

    Love from NC Mountains,
    Sherry & Jack

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  2. O.K. so both of my blog sisters have made soft pretzels...good for you, girls, but I'm still not going to make any...ha, so there. I'm sure you won't let me try yours, my loss, I'm sure. I will have to ask Mom how they were. Love You Girls Anyhow
    BlessYourHearts

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  3. They look so good, and so fresh!

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  4. my mouth is salivating!!!! I love soft pretzels and yours look fabulous.

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  5. Looking good Mel and oh so tasty. Dar doesn't know what she's missing! How long do you give her until she makes some? lol

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  6. Alright, already...later, but I will keep both yours and Cher's recipes...Bill isn't keen on thyme but he loves onions...
    You girls slay me

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  7. Mel, you and your sisters need to sell
    these to Dusty for selling in his shop.....
    goes with the beer....just a thought! :}
    Cher can drop hers off in July too.
    And where's Dars??? I bet she can
    make some dandy's too.
    Later woman,
    Love ya, me

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