September 26, 2013

Soft Pretzels from the Food Network Magazine

Soft Pretzels
Soft Pretzels



So apparently I no longer know how to do elementary mathematics. I went through upper level calculus in college, but my 7 year old had to explain his homework to me last night. Just so you don't think I'm a total failure let me give you the background. He was adding three number together (so lets use 4+5+9). I told him to add the first two and then add it to the third. He looked at me and told me I was wrong. What? Then he had to spend 10 minutes explaining how they learned to do it (completely different than I learned). I was so confused until I finally understood it. I laughed telling my husband the story, who still doesn't understand what my son is talking about. I'm just glad that I went to school in the 80's since everything is apparently turned upside down and backwards. The same thing has happened on other assignments. Apparently even though I have a Master's degree I would fail elementary school. My son finds it hilarious, I just remind him if the answer is the same I don't see why it matters how I get to it. It doesn't help that both of my in-laws taught school for 40 years a piece so I am surrounded by teachers. Luckily they don't know how to do his worksheets either. That at least makes me feel slightly better. This has been a long week for my household so I decided to reward my kids with a new recipe for Soft Pretzels from the October 2013 Food Network Magazine.
Image of Rotary Park Huntington, WV
Rotary Park Huntington, WV

This recipe has 6 ingredients. I takes 3 hours of total time, an hour of which is active and makes 12 large pretzels. I followed this recipe pretty closely to the original. I did make a few minor changes. First I found that I only needed 5 cups of flour and I added two more tablespoons of warm water. My dough would not come together with less water. Additionally, I used bread flour instead of all purpose. I turned my oven down to 400 since they browned way too quickly at 425 for the first batch (I baked my pretzels in two batches).
Rotary Park Huntington, WV
Rotary Park Huntington, WV

My husband really thought that these pretzels would go great with beer, mustard or as a sandwich bread with ham. They would also go well with any German dishes especially those with sauerkraut. My two boys loved these pretzels and ate them as soon as they were cool. They do get a little less firm after they are stored so they are best served warm.

For the recipe go to Soft Pretzels

Soft Pretzels


Recipe Type: Snacks
Summary:
A delicious and straight forward recipe for Soft Pretzels. Great with mustard.
Preparation Time: 2h, 45m
Cooking Time: 15h, 0m
Total Time: 3h, 0m
Yield: Serves 12

22 comments:

  1. We love pretzels in my family but I would probably want to put some type of frosting on it. I love them sweet. As for elementary math it does seem like things are being taught differently now. My son was telling me about multiplication a while ago that is done different from the way I did it. Guess as you said, as long as the answer is the same it's ok. Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

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    1. My oldest loves his sweet too. He always orders the cinnamon sugar ones with frosting at the mall :) Things are definitely taught very differently now! The answer is always the same though, so I find it funny that everything changed. Have a great weekend too!

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  2. We didn't get our last Food Network Magazine, and it's not time to renew. I'd better send of an e-mail. I didn't even notice until I read this post.

    Your pretzels turned out pretty.

    I have a Masters too, and couldn't help my second oldest with one section of his high school Math. Boy, he thought that was funny (cuz he's a brat like that). ;)

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    1. I hate it when I don't get one of my magazines. I have had it happen before, they normally will add a month onto the end of your subscription if you call. I'm glad I'm not the only one that has problems with the way math is now taught. Apparently the way we were taught was somehow not good enough :)

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  3. I feel your pain. I can NOT help my kids with their math unless I google it. It's not taught the way it was when we were kids and I don't get it at all.

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    1. I have had to Google for help so many times! It's so different than how we were taught....

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  4. Those look delish! My son is in Kindergarten and he is learning everything completely different from how I learned. I would probably fail Kindergarten if I were to go back now!

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    1. I'm pretty sure that I would fail if I went back too :)

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  5. I would love to try these, pretzels are so good. I can do the "new" math up until a certain point, and then I have to let my husband, the electrical engineer, take over for me. :)

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    1. My whole family loves pretzels, I just wish that they were better gluten free :) I always get the right answer, but they want my son to show his work using the method that they have learned. To me as long as the answer is right I don't see why it matter how you got there!

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  6. Absolutely loved your story about the homework. My husband and I just found ourselves in this situation last week with 6th grade math. Never mind the fact that we can make it through college, (one with an education degree) we found that we had to Google that homework. It was hilarious.

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    1. I have had to use Google many times :) Luckily my oldest is great about doing his homework by himself for the most part. I do think it's funny when people that went through college can now not do elementary math (my husband and I are definitely is that group!).

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  7. Wow! its best for tea time..
    http://fashionwithfitness.blogspot.com

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    1. They are great as a snack or with tea :) Have a great weekend!

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  8. I love soft pretzels...the hard kind I won't even touch! I melt some cheese and start the "dip It" frenzy, lol....Homework...I don't even think I want to go there...I think I better start saving some money now to hire some tutors because I Know for a Fact I won't be able to help my kid with that! Thanks for the recipe! looks great!

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    1. I prefer soft pretzels too, the flavor is much better. I think by highschool I am going to have to hire a tutor also :) They just don't teach things the same way anymore!

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  9. Thanks Ann, will definitely try this one out. Pretzels aren't as big over here in Australia so I can only imagine what they taste like. I also agree with the maths - my boys are 14yo and some things they ask me about I have never heard of before

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    1. They are big here because they are popular at sporting events and fairs :) The ones at the mall shops are never as good. I think Americans have a bread obsession!

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  10. Mmmm...I LOVE soft pretzels! I don't make them very often because I'd eat too many of them, but I might have to make some soon after reading this post. :)

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    1. My family has the problem of eating too many too :) It's hard to eat just one!

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  11. I enjoyed reading your post! Seems like the area of mathematics is always changing in school. The soft pretzels look delicious! I have never made them before. I like trying new things so maybe I will attempt a go at these.
    Have a great day :)

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    1. It does seem like things are always changing in school :) The pretzels are actually easy to make. Plus they are so good homemade! Have a great day too!

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