Monday Munchies... Soft Pretzels

I LOVE pretzels!!! Going to the mall was probably one of my favorite things to do growing up, and let's be honest still is, because whenever I would go to the mall I would get a soft, warm, salty pretzel with some yummy nacho cheese! My mouth is totally watering right now.... I have come across many different recipes for pretzels, but I have been hesitant to try them because I didn't want to be disappointed. Well... problem solved! I have THE BEST pretzel recipe and it will blow your mind! You will never spend $5 again at the mall because your homemade pretzels will be wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better than those at the mall and you get so much more for about the same price.

SHOPPING LIST:
2 Cups Milk
2 Packets of Dry Yeast
6 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons of melted Butter
4 1/2 Cups of Flour
2 Teaspoons of Fine Salt
1/3 Cup of Baking Soda
3 Cups of Warm Water
Coarse Salt
Nacho Cheese or sauce of your choice

Warm up the milk for 90 seconds in the microwave.

Stir is both yeast packets and allow the mixture to sit for 3 minutes.

Next add the butter and sugar.

Add flour one cup at a time, then add the salt.

Kneed or use a mixer for 10 minutes. (This is when I really really LOVE my KitchenAid Mixer. BEST WEDDING PRESENT EVER!!!!)

Grease a bowl, add the dough, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place.

After an hour, Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Divide dough in half, then in half, then in half again.

Roll dough out snake style. We chose to make pretzel bites because they are kind of better that way and the dough seemed to go much much further, but you can always youtube how to make fancy pretzels also.

Once the dough was rolled out, cut into small pieces (we used a pizza cutter).

Mix baking soda and warm water in a bowl, and place cut dough into mixture. Make sure the entire pretzel or bite is covered completely. I'll be honest, this part weird-ed me out, but I think it's the secret to the awesomeness.

Place on greased baking sheet and sprinkle the dough with coarse salt.

Bake for about 8 minutes, longer if you make actual pretzels.

Heat up the nacho cheese or sauce of your choice and ENJOY!!!

Seriously, you will die after the first bite. These are AMAZING!

Another thing that is amazing... My super cute baby! Oh I just LOVE being a Mom to this cute girl! Even more than I love pretzels... being a Mom sure does change a person.