In the newspaper there was an article about homemade pretzels (originally from "King Arthur's Flour Baking Companion") and I decided to give it a try.

Ingredients;

Dough:
- 2 1/2 cups un bleached flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons of instant yeast dissolved in 7/8 to 1 cup warm water (110 - 115 F)

Topping:
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Coarse, kosher, or pretzel salt

Step 1: Put All of the Dough Ingredients Into a Bowl and Beat Until Nicely Combined

Step 2: Mix It Up

Knead the dough in a mixer, or by hand for 5 min., until it's smooth, soft, and pretty slack. Then dust it with flour and put it in a plastic bag. Close the bag, (leave room for the dough to expand) and Let it rest for 30 min.

Step 3: Put the Dough Onto a Lightly Greased Surface

Split the dough into 8 equal pieces. Let the pieces rest, not covered, for 5 minutes.

Step 4: Roll Out the Dough

Roll the pieces of dough into a thin rope, about 22 inches long. Twist each rope into a pretzel shape. Brush each of the pretzels with the warm water mixed with a teaspoon of sugar and set them on the baking sheets. Sprinkle them with a little salt. Then let them rest for 10 min. uncovered.

Step 5: Baking

Bake the pretzels in a preheated, 500F oven for 8 to 10 min. or until they're golden brown. But don't forget to reverse the baking sheets half way through.

Step 6: Spread on the Butter

Take the pretzels out of the oven, and thoroughly brush on three tablespoons of melted butter on the pretzels. It may seem like a lot, but that's what gives them their yummy flavor.