Party Time!

Woo! We had a great group of people over for a great night of games and food! Unfortunately the Syracuse game was not so great. Ah well. We had quite the spread, I did not get a shot of the whole table once everyone brought their yummy food items (and there was a ton!) but I did get a shot of everything Sandy and I whipped up. More recipes from this night to follow shortly!

Putting Sandy to work in the kitchen as punishment for leaving the country for four years.

This was the second time I made these pretzels. I like them because they are easy and they don't have a ton of sugar or butter like some recipes do. However, I'm sure any pretzel would be much improved if you dunked it in a butter bath. I really like making the pretzel bites with cheese in them. I've made them with cheddar and asiago, both are delicious but you need to watch the cheddar because it will ooze out pretty quickly. They disappeared pretty quick with a couple of requests for the recipe.

Homemade Hot Pretzels!

(From the Mother Unit)

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup milk

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 1/4 cups flour

Cheese, optional

Egg white, for egg wash

Sea salt

For baking soda bath:

1/3 cup baking soda

3 cups warm water

Directions:

1. Sprinkle yeast in warm water. Let sit 5 minutes until frothy.

2. Add milk, brown sugar, butter, salt and flour to yeast mixture. Knead 10 minutes until dough is tacky.

3. Put dough in a greased bowl and let rise until doubled in size, about one hour.

4. Make your pretzels! Traditional pretzel shapes, pretzel sticks or cheesy pretzel bites! To make the pretzel bites take a small ball of dough and press a small block of cheese into it. Cover it completely and seal it up well so the cheese won't ooze out.

5. Put pretzels on greased baking sheet and let sit 15 minutes.

6. Mix baking soda with three cups warm water, dip pretzels in water for no more than 5 seconds and place on the baking sheet.

7. Brush pretzels with egg wash and sprinkle on sea salt.
8. Bake at 400 for about 12-15 minutes.

Trying different shapes the first time around.