Let's Do The Twist

There is something so comforting about the smell of warm yeasty dough proofing in the kitchen. I remember when kneading dough was our daily way of muscle building. You did not need free weights back then, just a good deal of elbow grease and the pleasure derived from making something from scratch to serve to family and friends. This is a recipe the kids will have fun rolling up their sleeves for; let them twist their pretzels into whatever shapes that they like. They will still taste wonderful no matter what the shape and there will be plenty of smiles to go around for such a special time shared.


Soft Pretzels

1 pkg. dry yeast
1 1/4 c. warm water
2 tsp. salt
4-5 c. unsifted white flour
Approx. 1 tbsp. soft butter
4 tsp. baking soda
kosher salt

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. When foamy add rest of water. Mix 4 cups flour and salt in large bowl. Add dissolved yeast. Add enough flour to make a stiff dough. Knead 10 minutes or until dough feels elastic. Knead dough into a ball, place in a bowl and spread with butter. Cover with a dish towel. Let rise in warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Pinch off small ball of dough and roll between your hands to form a coil 20 inches long and 1/4 inch in diameter.
Form into a pretzel, wetting ends and pinching them together firmly. Form rest of dough the same way. Put baking soda in 4 cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil. Drop one pretzel at a time into boiling water and let boil 1 minute or until it floats. Remove and drain. Place drained pretzels on greased cookie sheet. Spread with coarse salt. Bake at 475 degrees for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.

That' s The Fastest Turtle I've Ever Seen!

My grandmother has started to do her holiday baking this week she is making her date nut breads, next week it will either be the pizzelles, sesame cookies or some type of candy. My grandmother has to pace herself with her baking these days because she tires more quickly than she use to but still loves it because it keeps her busy.
I think for most of us this time of year can be quite tiring given the quantity of baking, cooking and candy making most of us will be doing. Probably with the economy the way it is it would be in all our best interests to give more gifts from the kitchen.
So over the next few weeks, I thought I would sneak in some really fun, quick and inexpensive holiday treat recipes that you can make a lot of with the least amount of effort and that have a pretty good shelf life. So even if you start making or baking now they’ll still be fresh for the serving, eating and gift giving later.

Easy Turtles Candies

What you will need:


1 bag of Rolo candies
1 bag of Snyder's of Hanover square shaped butter pretzels 1 bag of pecan halves

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1. Unwrap Rolo candies and place in bowl for later.
2. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper.
3. Lay down the pretzels onto the cookie sheet. You can get approx. 50-60 to a cookie sheet.
4. Set a Rolo on each pretzel.
5. Place in oven to soften Rolo’s, approximately 3 minutes. Check occasionally, do not let them melt.
6. Take out of oven.
7. Push a pecan half on top of each Rolo
8. Set in a cool area or fridge to harden.
9. Remove from wax paper and store in bag or container, they stay at their best when kept cold.