Pretzel Dots

20130421-152311.jpg

Pretzel Dots

*2 1/2 cups plus 2 Tablespoons Warm Water
*2 teaspoons of Yeast
*1/2 teaspoon of Sugar

Place above ingredients in a Four Cup Glass Measuring Cup. Set aside until bubbly.

*3 Cups Bread Flour
*1 Cup Pastry Flour
*1/4 teaspoon Salt
*1 teaspoon Sugar

Combine the above ingredients in a bread mixer for about 5 minutes with the Bubbly Yeast mixture. Add the wet ingredients first in mixer. Mix on slow speed at first then bump up to medium speed. Mix until Sticky Smooth consistency. Add more Flour if needed. (You could also knead by hand.)

Cover the dough with a Barely Damp Dish Towel. (Don’t use Terry Cloth Dish Towels. I like Flour Sack Dish Towels.). Let rise for 40 minutes.

Divide dough into 6 balls and roll out with hands into 2 inch thick “Snakes” and cut every 2 inches.

Soda Bath/Wash

*2 cups Steaming Hot Water
*1/4 cup Baking Soda

On medium heat, in a Stainless Steel Saucepan put Water and Soda. When almost boiling remove from heat and dip Basting Brush in Water and Soda Bath and cover each piece of dough with the Soda and Water mixture.

20130421-162528.jpg

This Pretzel Dot is already baked but you will put all the cut, un-baked dots on the cooling rack with a Cookie Sheet Pan underneath and brush with the Soda Bath/Wash.

20130421-162601.jpg

Place on Cookie Sheet Pan lined with Parchment Paper or Silpat. Bake at 500*F. For 7 to 9 minutes or until Golden Brown.

20130421-162955.jpg

After baked, baste or brush Melted Butter on all Dots and Sprinkle with Coarse Salt. You could also make them into Cinnamon Dots by omitting the Coarse Salt for Cinnamon and Sugar mixture or Sprinkle Grated Parmesan Cheese.

20130421-163020.jpg

You could all so divide the dough into 10-12 balls and make into Pretzel Shape instead of small Dot shapes.

20130421-163325.jpg

20130421-163409.jpg

20130421-163443.jpg

20130421-163633.jpg

20130421-164751.jpg

Enjoy.

Jessica and Lindy

Banana Bread

This is a Healthy version of Banana Bread in our Family. I hope you will try it and like it too.

20130411-175826.jpg

Banana Bread

* 1    1/3 cups Applesauce
* 1/3 cup Light Olive Oil
* 4 eggs
* 4 ripe Bananas mashed
* 2 teaspoons Vanilla
* 1 teaspoon Cinnamon (optional)

*If you really have a “sweet tooth” you can add 1/3 cup of Brown Sugar.

First mash your ripe peeled Bananas in bowl with fork. Then add remaining ingredients and mix together well.

Dry Ingredients:

* 1 teaspoon Salt
* 3 cups Whole Wheat Flour
* 1 cup All-Purpose Flour or Bread Flour
* 2 teaspoons Baking Soda

In separate bowl whisk together the dry ingredients and add to the wet ingredients. Stir until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.

Prepare two Loaf Pans by spraying with Pam or grease and flour the pans. My Loaf Pans were 8 1/4 x 4 1/4 x 2 1/2 inches.

Bake at 350* F. For 45 to 50 minutes.

20130411-180028.jpg

20130411-180335.jpg

20130411-180405.jpg

20130411-180432.jpg

20130411-180808.jpg

Enjoy.

Lindy