pretzels

I mentioned on FB that I had made pretzels today...and how wonderfully simple they are to make, a few lovely ladies wanted the receipe, so thought I'd share it on here for you all.
Seriously scrummy!
3Tblsp oil
450ml warm water
6 c flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast.

If you have a breadmaker throw it all in on the dough cycle, if you don't then go ahead and treat this mix as usual bread - ie, yeast and oil in warm water , let it froth for around 10 mins, then add in your flour, mix it up real good, knead for 10 mins or so then leave to rise for about an hour+....you already know how, so I'll shush!

Preheat your oven to 220c, and pop about a litre of water and a teaspoon of salt onto simmer...once its gently bubbly, pop in 2 tsp of baking soda and watch is explode (FUN), this acts as a lovely brine for the dough....

Now while you are waiting for the water to simmer, divide you dough into around 12 pieces, these will make large pretzels, so double it if you want smaller ones...its really no trouble how you do it, just make sure that its evenish....roll each piece into a skinny sausage and pretzel its shape up....THEN,

pop each one into the simmering water for around 20 seconds and then take it out, putting it onto a cake rack to drain off....once they are all done, pop onto a baking tray, sprinkle salt over and into the hot waiting oven....for around 10 minutes....

If you can wait, once cooler split 'em and smoother them in cream cheese...bet you love 'em!
p.s. this photo is so not mine, as i didn't get one I found this on the net...you get the idea tho!