My Homemade Pretzels

INGREDIENTS    

• 1½ t. active dry yeast 
• ½ t. brown sugar 
• 1 dash salt 
• 1½ cups warm water 
• 4 cups bread flour 
• 1 T. baking soda 
• ¼ cup warm water 
• melted butter for topping    

DIRECTIONS    

1. Combine first 4 ingredients; allow to rest for 5 minutes. Stir and knead for 5 minutes.
2. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp towel, and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour. 
3. Divide dough into 8-12 equal-size pieces; roll each piece into a rope; shape each rope into a pretzel.
4. In a skillet, stir baking soda into warm water; dip pretzels into mixture and lay coated pretzel onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.
5. Preheat oven to 425° F.
6. Bake pretzels for 8 minutes, or until golden brown.
7. Brush melted butter onto hot pretzels.
8. Sprinkle with pretzel salt.

Recipe Image: Sugar Spun Run