Rainy Day Pretzels

So, as I mentioned in an earlier post, it has been raining here quite a bit. The kids have been bonkers, to say the least!

A little stream flowing past our driveway after yet another downpour!

We have been doing some fun things, like going outside in bathing suits and jumping in puddles, and the kids continue to do their swim lessons, even though it might be raining (hey, they're gonna be wet one way or the other, right?). But it has been a bit wearing for them. So when my friend Katie (hi, Katie!), showed me this recipe for quick and easy homemade pretzels, I figured I'd have the kids help whip some up for a special rainy day lunch. The original recipe is from Sally's Baking Addiction, and they are yummy, easy and quick!

The final product! Mmmm, don't they look good!

So first, we dissolved yeast, salt and sugar in warm water.

CLG has mad stirring skills!

Then we added in a cup of flour at a time until we had a sticky dough. We used plain old white flour, but the original recipe uses wheat.

Everyone needs some time to stir...first CLG, and then CLB!

We dumped the sticky dough onto a floured surface, and then we all started to knead:

Both kids really wanted to get in on the kneading action!

After a minute or two of us all trying to knead at once (that was interesting, let me tell you!), the kids each found their own pieces of dough to play with. While they played, I kneaded until the dough was smooth and happy...about 5 minutes.

The kids loved playing with the dough!

And while they played, I kneaded. Here's our happy little ball of dough!

I cut the dough into eight pieces, roughly the same size (I cut the ball in half, then each half in half and then each quarter in half...you get the picture). I floured each piece and formed them into oblong shapes, but the kids did the real work here. They rolled out each piece of dough until they had long snakes. Only thing I had to do here was to help even the snakes out.

It's just like Playdoh, Moooom!

Then we shaped them into pretzels and put them on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

Four of our pretzels. Yes, they're all different shapes and sizes...that's what happens when you cook with little kids! Each one is an original piece of art :)  

I beat an egg with some water and brushed each pretzel with this egg mixture. Four of the pretzels I sprinkled with kosher salt. The other four I left plain. The pretzels baked in a 425 degree oven for about 15 minutes or so.

Pretzels hot out of the oven!

We had more plans for the four plain pretzels! CLB cut up some butter and melted it in the microwave while CLG and I mixed some cinnamon and sugar together. We dipped each plain pretzel into the butter and then sprinkled it with (and plunged it into) the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Mmmm, cinnamon sugar pretzels!

The kids really enjoyed the cinnamon sugar pretzels, but I admit, I loooved the kosher salt ones. I guess I'm a pretzel purist (LOL). Regardless, the pretzels made for a great experience and lunch. Thank you, Katie for sharing this recipe with me and inspiring us to make them!

Cinnamon sugar pretzel, cantaloupe cheese stick and chocolate milk for lunch! Okay, maybe not the healthiest lunch, but it's not that bad, and hey, it's summer!

And shortly after, we were able to go back out to the public pool for a fun time with friends. It stopped raining! Yay! A great day!

Finally, some fun in the sun!

Recipe:

Homemade Soft Pretzels

(barely) adapted from 30 Minute Homemade Soft Pretzels

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups lukewarm water

2 1/2 teaspoons (or one packet) active yeast

1 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon granulated sugar

4 cups of all purpose white flour and some more for kneading

1 large egg

About 2 Tablespoons of water

kosher salt -OR- melted butter and a mixture of cinnamon and sugar 

Directions

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Dissolve yeast in warm water and stir, and then add salt and sugar. Stir a bit more. Add flour to the mixture, one cup at a time, stirring after each addition to incorporate completely. When the dough forms into a loose ball, turn it out onto a floured surface.

Knead the dough until it isn't overly sticky and is nice and smooth, about 5 minutes. Cut the dough into eight or ten equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long, evenly formed "snake", and shape into a pretzel. Place each pretzel onto a cookie sheet, four or five per sheet.

Beat the egg and water together and then brush this mixture over the pretzels. If you want regular salted pretzels, sprinkle with kosher or pretzel salt. If you want cinnamon sugar pretzels, just keep the pretzels in plain. Bake the pretzels in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes (depending on the pretzel size), until they are golden brown.

If you want cinnamon sugar pretzels, mix some cinnamon and sugar together and melt some butter. Dip the plain, baked pretzels into the butter (careful, the pretzels will be hot!), and then sprinkle each of them with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Then, ENJOY!!