Soft Pretzels I

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 1 1/3 cups warm water (110 degrees f/45 degrees c)
• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 4 cups water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt

Recipe

• in a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water. proof for 5 minutes.
• mix in butter or margarine, flour, and salt. cut dough into short strips, roll into ropes, and shape into pretzels. cover, and let rise on a greased baking sheet for about 45 minutes.
• in a cast iron or other nonaluminum pan, bring water and baking soda almost to a boil. gently lower pretzels into water for about 1 minute, turning once. do not let water come to a full boil. remove pretzels, and return to greased baking sheet. sprinkle with kosher salt.
• bake at 475 degrees f (245 degrees c) for about 12 minutes.