Kara's Pretzels

These pretzels are a Sunday staple at our house. When you need bread but don't have all day, you just make these and have fresh pretzels in less than an hour. Aunt Kara made these pretzels as a teenager. She got the recipe in a cooking class in junior high, so they are easy and foolproof. Grandma and mom use the recipe, and so do I. I usually make them on Sunday when we're hungry after church. You can enjoy them salted and with butter, cinnamon sugar, or like rolls with butter and jam. This is probably the easiest recipe for bread you'll ever find, so hang onto it!

Soft Pretzels 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 Tbsp yeast
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 4 cups flour

Directions:

1. Combine yeast and water in large mixing bowl. Let it rise for one minute, add sugar and stir and let rise one more minute.
2.  Add milk and salt and combine. Stir in flour to make a stiff dough (more flour=chewier pretzels)
3. Knead with flour. Let dough sit for 5 minutes. 
4. Roll into ropes and shape into pretzels. Place on greased baking sheet. Brush with milk (or egg wash if you're feeling fancy) and sprinkle with salt. 
5. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.