When the sweets of the season start to get boring (if that can possibly happen!), this is a fun way to provide the family with a new treat and not so much sugar. And, you can make them a lot cheaper than the ones they sell at the malls, too.
Easy Homemade Pretzels - Your Way!
1 ½ tablespoons dry yeast
1-1/2 cups cool water
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
4 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
8-10 cups water
½ cup baking soda
1 egg, lightly beaten
Coarse salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sunflower seeds, freshly ground black pepper, chili flakes, popcorn salt, etc.
Dissolve yeast in the 1 ½ cups of water. Add the sugar, salt, and enough flour to form a stiff dough. Knead on a well-floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in a greased (use vegetable oil spray) bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let risedoubled, about 1 hour.
For large pretzels, divide the dough into 12 portions. Roll each into an 18-in. rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Place on a parchment-lined baking pan until they are all made.
In a large pot, bring the 8-10 cups of water and baking soda to a boil. Carefully place each of the pretzels into boiling water, one at a time, for about 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Put the ‘boiled’ pretzels back on the parchment-lined baking sheets. Brush with egg; sprinkle with desired topping.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Timing depends on the size of your pretzels. Cool on wire racks and serve warm or cold.
Ideas . . .
You can divide the dough into 24 portions if you’d like smaller pretzels.
I’ve been known to add 1/4 cup of grated Romano or Parmesan cheese to the pretzel dough.
You can go with a topping of cinnamon and sugar, too. I like the sweet and not so sweet taste between the topping and the pretzel.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Crossing the Water - How do YOU do it?
Crossing the Water
By Sri Ramakrishna.
A farmer's daughter duty was to carry fresh milk to customers in various villages had, one of whom was a priest. To reach his house, the milkmaid had to cross a good-sized stream. People crossed it by a sort of ferry raft, for a small fee.
One day the priest, who performed worship daily with the offering to God of fresh milk, finding it arrived very late, scolded the poor woman. "What can I do?" she said, "I start out early from my house, but I have to wait a long time for the boatman to come."
Then the priest said (pretending to be serious), "What! People have even walked across the ocean by repeating the name of God, and you can't cross this little river?" This milkmaid took him very seriously. From then on she brought the priest's milk punctually every morning. He became curious about it and asked her how it was that she was never late anymore.
"I cross the river repeating the name of the Lord," she replied, "just as you told me to do, without waiting for the ferry." The priest didn't believe her, and asked, "Can you show me this, how you cross the river on foot?" So they went together to the water and the milkmaid began to walk over it. Looking back, the woman saw that the priest had started to follow her and was floundering in the water.
"Sir!" she cried, "You are uttering the name of God, yet all the while you are holding up your clothes from getting wet. That is not trusting in God!"
By Sri Ramakrishna.
A farmer's daughter duty was to carry fresh milk to customers in various villages had, one of whom was a priest. To reach his house, the milkmaid had to cross a good-sized stream. People crossed it by a sort of ferry raft, for a small fee.
One day the priest, who performed worship daily with the offering to God of fresh milk, finding it arrived very late, scolded the poor woman. "What can I do?" she said, "I start out early from my house, but I have to wait a long time for the boatman to come."
Then the priest said (pretending to be serious), "What! People have even walked across the ocean by repeating the name of God, and you can't cross this little river?" This milkmaid took him very seriously. From then on she brought the priest's milk punctually every morning. He became curious about it and asked her how it was that she was never late anymore.
"I cross the river repeating the name of the Lord," she replied, "just as you told me to do, without waiting for the ferry." The priest didn't believe her, and asked, "Can you show me this, how you cross the river on foot?" So they went together to the water and the milkmaid began to walk over it. Looking back, the woman saw that the priest had started to follow her and was floundering in the water.
"Sir!" she cried, "You are uttering the name of God, yet all the while you are holding up your clothes from getting wet. That is not trusting in God!"
Homemade Candy Canes?
My favorite treat at Christmas time has always been candy canes. I don't know what it is about the shape but regular, hard-mint candies just don't taste the same. You can imagine my surprise and delight to come across this recipe today for . . . Homemade Candy Canes! If I have time, next week, I think this will be a fun activity on a cold afternoon.
http://candy.about.com/od/hardcandyrecipes/r/candy_canes.htm?nl=1
http://candy.about.com/od/hardcandyrecipes/r/candy_canes.htm?nl=1
Party Cheese Crackers
This is an easy and fun cracker to make especially during the holiday season. Pair it with a favorite dip and you have an impressive snack to offer your guests . . . made by you. They are zippy crackers with a lot of taste.
Party Cheese Crackers½ pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until it forms a dough. Form the dough on waxed paper int a long roll and then square off the edges so when you cut them, later, you will have either square or oblong crackers, your choice!
Slice the log 1/4 inch thick and arrange the slices one inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake the crackers for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned on the bottom and around the edges. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool before serving.
Ideas . . .
You can brush the top of the unbaked crackers with a bit of egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, coarse salt, etc.
I’ve added a tablespoon or two of Feta cheese to the mix for a tangy cracker.
Party Cheese Crackers½ pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until it forms a dough. Form the dough on waxed paper int a long roll and then square off the edges so when you cut them, later, you will have either square or oblong crackers, your choice!
Slice the log 1/4 inch thick and arrange the slices one inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake the crackers for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned on the bottom and around the edges. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool before serving.
Ideas . . .
You can brush the top of the unbaked crackers with a bit of egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, coarse salt, etc.
I’ve added a tablespoon or two of Feta cheese to the mix for a tangy cracker.
In Anticipation of Christmas Eve . . .
Lead me to Thy peaceful manger,
Wound'rous Babe of Bethlehem;
Shepherds hail Thee, yet a stranger;
Let me worship Thee with them,
I am vile, but Thou art holy;
Oh, unite my heart to Thee;
Make me contrite, keep me lowly,
Pure as Thou wouldst have me be.
M. Bridges: Lead me to Thy Peaceful manager (19th century)
Wound'rous Babe of Bethlehem;
Shepherds hail Thee, yet a stranger;
Let me worship Thee with them,
I am vile, but Thou art holy;
Oh, unite my heart to Thee;
Make me contrite, keep me lowly,
Pure as Thou wouldst have me be.
M. Bridges: Lead me to Thy Peaceful manager (19th century)
Unfortunately, too much truth . . .
Vote: The instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself
and a wreck of his country.
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