pretzels

Made some pretzels tonight.  Well, more like pretzel rolls.  They tasted good but they weren't really very pretzely.  I did some online searching after these were finished - looks like most recipes call for either boiling or a baking soda wash after shaping and then baking.  Maybe that was what they needed.


Pretzel recipe
(modified from a recipe I found in "Cooking in Colour: 700 recipes for every occasion" edited by Norma MacMillan and Wendy James)


1/2 teaspoon sugar
7/8 cups lukewarm water
2 teaspoons dried yeast
2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 eggs
2 tablespoon coarse salt

  Dissolve sugar in water and sprinkle yeast on top.  Leave in warm place until frothy (about 5 minutes).
  Sift flour and salt into a bowl and stir in poppy seeds, yeast mixture, oil and one egg.  Mix to soft dough.  Leave to rise until doubled in size.
  Knead until smooth on a lightly floured surface.  Break into 8 equal pieces.  Roll each until about 10" long and shape into a loose knot (i.e. pretzel shape).  Arrange pretzels on a greased baking tray.  Leave to prove until doubled in size.
  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Beat remaining egg and brush over pretzels.  Sprinkle with coarse salt and bake for about 10 minutes till crisp and golden.  Cool on wire rack.