Buttery Soft Pretzels

I haven't actually tried this yet, but I saw this on allrecipes.com and it got great ratings... and I didn't want to forget about, it so I thought I would share it here until I had gotten around to making them. I have to admit that soft pretzels are a major weekness of mine! If any of you try the recipe before I do, let me know how it turns out!

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
•  
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 4 cups hot water
• 1/4 cup kosher salt, for topping

Directions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.
4. When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned.

Green Smoothies

I know some of you make green smoothies and I would LOVE your recipes. We are in a bit of a rut.
Here is the current favorite but it is getting a little redundant. I apologize I don't know the exact amount but I will estimate.
A bunch of spinach-maybe 3 packed handfuls
Apple Juice-about a cup
Vanilla Yogurt-6 oz.
1 Banana-I like to keep it in the fridge so it doesn't bring down the chill of my other ingredients.
1/2-1 juice of a lime-THIS IS KEY, I don't know why but it is just not the same with out it.
Ice-optional
Blend~Taste~Add more greens (repeat until you can barely taste the greens but it is still yummy)

It makes enough for a sippy full for about a 10 oz for B and 16 oz. for me.
I like to put them in these sippies. They are $1 and I break the spout for a bigger opening. Straw cups work great too but I don't feel like I can get the staw clean on the inside. It might just be in my head but it freaks me out thinking greens are hiding in there.

I also like these alot. Every few months Costco sends out a coupon for them. You just add milk and a ton of spinach. They are yummy!

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