2 Packages baking (*not* brewing!) yeast
1-1/2 Cups Warm water
2 tablespoons Sugar
1 teaspoon Salt (can be reduced or eliminated for the health conscious)
4 Cups Flour (preferably baking or high gluten, but any will do)
1 Well beaten egg
Coarse pretzel salt (again, optional. add as desired.)
(NOTE: often found in the kosher section of your supermarket)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Dissolve Yeast in warm water.
Add sugar and salt, mix well.
Add sifted flour (measure unsifted) You can sift through a common strainer if you don’t have a real flour sifter.
Knead for five minutes.
Let sit for five minutes to rise. This really isn’t necessary but I find it makes the dough less sticky and easier to handle.
Roll the dough into creative and imaginary shapes and arrange on lightly greased cookie sheet.
Brush pretzels with beaten egg and sprinkle salt.
Bake at 425 deg. F. for 12-15 or until golden brown.
Enjoy these pretzels hot with your favorite condiments, for as good as they are hot, they are as bad cold. I have yet to find a way to reheat the leftovers, through a toaster-oven is about the best I’ve tried. Using a microwave oven turns them to rubber.