Home made Soft Pretzels

What have I been doing during this quarantine time, you ask?  Baking, baking and more baking.  I'm planning on getting everyone here to gain some weight.  I think it might be working.

I thought I would try making Soft Pretzels again.  I used to make these back in the day (before kids) and now I'm wondering why I never made these when the kids were little?  They aren't really difficult to make.  The sad part is, they don't last very long.  The batch that I made lasted less than 24 hours.  That might be a record for home made soft pretzels. 

These are great to eat plain or, if you are feeling adventurous, you can try them with mustard or a cheese sauce. 

Enough talking, let's get down to baking these pretzels....

Here's the recipe:

Home Made Soft Pretzels

ingredients:
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 packet dry/instant yeast
1 tsp salt
1 TBSP brown sugar
1 TBSP butter, melted
3 3/4 cups - 4 cups all purpose flour
coarse sea salt

1/2 cup baking soda
9 cups water

directions:
Whisk yeast into water with a little sugar and allow to proof.
Whist in the rest of sugar, salt and butter.
Add 3 cups of flour, one cup at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon until the dough is thick.  Add 3/4 cup (or a little more) until the dough is no longer sticky.  When you poke the dough with your finger and it bounces back, it is ready to knead.

Place dough on floured surface and knead for 3 minutes.
Shape into ball and cover with towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
Get water and baking soda boiling.
Preheat oven to 400F and line 2 cookie sheets with silicone baking mats.

Cut dough into 1/3 cup sections.
Roll dough into 20-22" rope.  Take ends and bring them together so dough forms circle.  Twist ends and bring them towards yourself and press them down into pretzel shape.

Put baking soda and water in a large pot and bring to a boil.  Drop 1-2 pretzels into boiling water for 20-30 seconds.  Use a slotted spatula to lift pretzels out of water, making sure to drain excess water off pretzel.  Place pretzel on baking sheet. 
Sprinkle each pretzel with coarse sea salt. 
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until they are golden brown.
Remove from oven and serve warm.

Pretzels can be stored in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 3 days.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*This recipe makes about 12 pretzels
*Can be served alone or with mustard or cheese sauce. 

If you make the Soft Pretzels, let me know how they turned out!

Enjoy!

My Clock

It all started with my hair brained idea of painting my bed room (I'll go into more details about THAT  crazy  nightmare  idea in another post).   I got the paint, moved furniture, washed walls, unplugged my bed room clock (yea, I still have one....don't make fun of me!) taped (the trim) and got to work.  When I was finished for the day, I moved the furniture back and plugged in my clock.  I tried setting the clock but it just buzzed and flashed numbers.  RT told me that I'm going to have to buy another clock.

I think you remember my story about Old Faithful.   The clock that my dad recommended I purchase.  That was my $7.00 clock that lasted over 30 years.  I know.  I got lucky on that one, thanks to my dad doing the field work for me.  After that one died, it took me three weeks to finally take the plunge and buy a new one .  That was roughly three years ago.

How long do clocks last?  I feel like three years is not long at all.  Am I asking too much to buy a clock that lasts longer than three years?  I'm not asking for another 30 years, how about 5-10 years?

Once again, I'm on my own because my Dad isn't here to do the research and make his recommendations for a new clock purchase.   Since the stores are closed, I will have to do all of my research online and probably wait several weeks (or months) before I can get a new one.

Your prayers (and any recommendations) are desperately  needed at this time.

Self Isolation or Quarrantine from the CoronaVirus or COVID-19 Day 27

I think these lyrics sum up my feelings about being in isolation for the last 27 days and the Coronavirus  or  COVID-19:


And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs 
What's going on?

What's Up  by, 4 Non Blondes

My Weird Dog

Now that I have a little time on my hands (thanks a lot, Coronavirus!) I noticed that Pippen is very picky about his food.  When he starts to eat, he grabs some dog food in his mouth, eats a few pieces but spits the rest out onto the floor.  When he spits out the food, he acts like it tastes really bad.  I'm not even sure he knows he's doing this when he eats.  I think it has become a bad habit OR he thinks someone is trying to poison his food.

Well, we all know that someone is out there trying to poison his water.  You can click here to check this post out for a little back story on water bowl poisoning.  He is still a little weird about his own water bowl and sometimes refuses to drink out of it depending on who filled it last.

I thought he was doing great with food up until now.  Once I realized his spitting habit, I started thinking about Pippen and food.  Most dogs will take any snack or morsel that you give them.  Our last dog, Newton, would eat just about anything you gave him.  He would lick the kitchen floor clean after a meal.  We even had a cat that ate green beans and pizza.  And then there's Pippen.  Toss him a tortilla chip and he will sniff it, maybe lick it and then walk away.  He does the same with pretzels (of course, once I say this to someone, Pippen will automatically eat one from that person).  He will eat weird things like avocado or beans.  I like to say that he's vegan, but, he will eat meat.  He knows when RT makes sweet potatoes and eggs and will stare him down hoping to get a small taste. 

Pippen now has a time limit set for his meals.  If he does not eat during that time, his bowl is picked up.  Don't worry, he does get a second chance meal in the afternoon and, he isn't starving to death.  Somehow he decides that the food tastes better at the second serving and finishes his bowl.

Vegetarian Diaries - Beer Batter Cheese Bread

I thought I would post RT's famous Beer Batter Cheese Bread that he makes in his cast iron pan.  This bread is a family favorite.

I'm sure that I've mentioned on numerous occasions that our house is full of bread snobs.  Good, homemade bread doesn't go to waste here.  In fact, it disappears rather quickly.  RT doesn't make this bread very often so when he asked the other day if he could make a loaf, I told him to go for it! 

The recipe is pretty easy to follow and you probably already have all of the ingredients on hand.  If you don't have Gruyere cheese, you can always substitute for cheddar or mozzarella cheese.   If you try any other cheese, let me know in the comments!

Oh, and the loaf that he made, disappeared in less than 24 hours.

Here's the recipe:

Beer Batter Cheese Bread

ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup minced fresh chives
2 TBSP sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
8 oz Gruyere cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
1 1/4 cups mild lager
3 TBSP unsalted butter, melted

directions:
Put oven rack to middle section and heat 20 450 degrees.  Grease 10" cast iron skillet.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, chives, sugar, baking powder, salt and pepper.  Stir in 1 1/2 cups of cheese, breaking up any clumps, until coated with the flour.  Stir in beer and melted butter into the flour mixture until just combined.  Batter will be heavy and thick.  Make sure not to over mix.

Scrape batter into greased skillet and smooth the top.  Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. 

Place skillet in the oven and bake until the loaf is a golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (that's about 20-25 minutes).  Making sure to rotate halfway through baking.

Use potholders to transfer skillet to wire rack.  Let the loaf cool in skillet for 10 minutes. 

Carefully remove the loaf from the skillet and place on wire rack and let cool for at least 20 more minutes before serving.


If you try making this Beer Batter Cheese Bread, let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

Self Isolating - Quarantine Day 21

Still walking as much as I possibly can in a day.  Anything to get out of the house.  RT finds projects that "he"wants to do during this time.  All supplies somehow appear in my sight and I end up doing  his the project.

We were told we are to quarantine for another month.  With all of these "projects" magically appearing, prayers are going to be needed.

I know you are rooting for me but remember, RT has his own problems to deal with during this time.  Working at home, being quarantined (with me) and, oh, yea, listening to me constantly whistling "Jingle Bells" for the last three weeks.

Cheers to another month of fun!

National Card and Letter Writing Month

April is National Card and Letter Writing Month.

I mean, who doesn't love getting a handwritten letter in the mail?  I know that's the first piece of mail I open.  A handwritten letter is a lot better than opening up a bill.

And, with all of this extra "free" time during the quarantine, what better way to spend it than by keeping in touch with friends and family members?

It's time for you to get out all of that pretty paper and cards that you are saving for a special occasion.  Now is the time to use it!  And, don't worry if you don't have pretty paper.  Grab some paint, stickers, washi tape, crayons, or markers and create your own artistic paper.

Letter writing is also a great way to practice your penmanship (I think we all need the extra practice). Don't worry about bad handwriting.  Loved ones know you and your  bad  handwriting and they still love hearing from you.

Don't know what to say?  How about starting off with "Hi" or "Hello"?    Maybe tell them what you have been doing with your time during this quarantine.  Instead of wishing a friend or family a happy birthday on social media, how about sending them a physical card?  You can write a few lines in the card wishing them a happy birthday, letting them know that you are thinking about them.   You can even send a "just because" note or card letting them know that you appreciate them.

What are you waiting for???   Grab your pens and paper and start writing!