Recipe:   Soft Pretzels



Ingredients:

1 cup Warm Water
1 Tablespoon Active Dry Yeast
2 3/4 cups Flour -- divided
2 Tablespoons Butter or Margarine -- soft
1/2 teaspoon Salt
4 cups Water
5 Tablespoons Baking Soda
Coarse Salt

Instructions:

Soften yeast and water in large mixing bowl.  Beat together yeast
mixture,
half the flour, butter, salt, and sugar.   After gluten is formed, add
remaining flour and knead until the dough loses its stickiness.  (Or,
put
first 5 ingredients into bread machine and do the shaping after machine
has
done the work!)  Let rise in greased bowl until doubled in bulk. After
punching down, divide into 12 pieces.   Roll into 18" 'snakes' and
shape for
pretzels.  Place on greased baking sheet and allow to rise until almost
double.  Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.  Bring water and baking soda to
a
boil in a non-aluminum pan.  Using slotted spoon, gently lower raised
pretzels into boiling water for about 1 minute or until they float. 
Return
to greased baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse salt as desired.  Bake
for
about 12 minutes.