Soft Pretzels/Sticks
From: Calgary Herald
Submitted by: Steph:0)
Serving Size : 16
1 tablespoon yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons margarine -- softened
1 cup warm water
2 3/4 cups flour
course salt
5 teaspoons baking soda
4 cups water
Put yeast, sugar, salt, margarine, and one cup of the flour into a medium mixing bowl and pour in the warm water. Stir until smooth and yeast begins to bubble. At this point, add the rest of the flour, and stir until it is mixed in. When the mixture is too stiff to stir with a spoon, begin kneading in the bowl. Knead dough until smooth and until it no longer sticks to the bowl or your hands. Allow dought to rise to about double its height.
When dough has nearly risen enough, preheat oven to 475 F, grease a cookie sheet (grease VERY well), and prepare the baking soda-water mixture. Mix baking soda with water in a non-aluminum saucepan and bring to a boil.
When dough is risen enough, punch down and knead for a minute or so. Then divide the dough and roll six-inch sticks with your hands to about a half-inch diameter, or roll 12-15-inch long rolls to make into the pretzel shape. Allow the sticks or pretzels to sit for about one or two minutes. PLace them into the boiling water-baking soda mixture one or two at a time. Let the pretzels boil for 1 minute and 10 seconds, then flip them over and boil for another 1 minute and 10 seconds. This boiling step gives them a firm skin and adds some flavour. Not boiling long enough leaves them too soft and allows them to rise too much. Boiling too long makes them tough.
Fish them out of the water with a slotted spoon, let them drip off and place them onto the well-greased cookie sheet. When all pretzes or sticks are done, sprinkle the course salt on them. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until sticks or pretzels are golden brown.
Makes about 16 sticks. You can double the recipe in proportion.
Delicious, soft and chewy!!! Just like the ones from vendors on the street in New York City!!
Not bad reheated in the microwave the next day.
Units: per stick 2
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