The Best Pretzels Ever!!

Got this recipe from my Mommy & Me Cookbook (thank you Amy Hays for submitting it!!). It's awesome and we make these quite a bit now. We LOVE pretzels!!

1/3 cup warm water
1 pkg. yeast
1 cup milk
1 egg, separated
1 teaspoon salt
1/4-1/3 cup sugar or honey
1/4 cup butter or margarine, soften
4-5 cups flour

Mix the warm water with the yeast till the yeast is dissolved. Separate the egg and place the egg white to the side. Mix all the other ingredients together. Let rise. Separate dough into 8-9 pieces and shape - i.e. make into a long rope, about a foot and cross the end pieces. The kids love to shape their dough piece how ever they like. Just don't let them have any small pieces out or they may burn. Flip the round part over the crossed pieces. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Mix the egg white with a little bit of water and brush the pretzels with the wash. Sprinkle with salt if desired. Let rise for about 20 minutes. Bake at 425 for 15-20 minutes. This is an old recipe. It can be made in a bread machine but it may strain it a bit. Use more sugar for a sweeter pretzel and less for a more traditional pretzel flavor.

Amber's note: I am really bad about waiting for the dough to rise. I make mine usually omitting the rising the 2nd time. I usually make my dough, let it rise while I prep for other things (generally no more than half an hour) and then I start making them. Don't usually have much of an issue and they still taste great! We shape them in all different shapes. We made the number 4 for Danny's Birthday treat to his preschool class. They were awesome!!

Banana Nut Bread

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 egg
3 medium bananas (mashed)
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. oil
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Directions:
1. Grease a loaf pan, set aside. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
2. In another bowl, combine egg, bananas, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to dry mixture. Fold in nuts.
3. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake @ 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or till toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from loaf pan, cool on wire rack.

Amish Loaf Bread

Ingredients:
2 c. warm water
2/3 c. granulated sugar
5 tsp. yeast
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. vegetable oil
5 1/2 c. flour

Directions:
In large glass bowl dissolve sugar in the warm water and stir in yeast. Allow to proof about 5-10 minutes. (It will look foamy.) Mix in salt and oil to the yeast. Mix in flour 1 cup at a time. When dough has formed a ball, knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth (not stick) about 5-10 minutes.

Wipe down previously-used glass bowl and oil it well. Place dough in bowl and turn to coat surface of dough with the oil. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap in a warm area. Allow to rise until it has doubled in bulk.

Knead dough lightly and divide in half. Shape into loaves and place into two well oiled 9 x 5-inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F, and bake for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Let bread sit for at least 15-30 minutes after it comes out of oven to finish setting up.

Hamburger & Hot Dog Buns

Ingredients

• 2 cups warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1/4 cup margarine, melted
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 (.25 ounce) packages instant yeast
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 6 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir together the milk, margarine, warm water, sugar and yeast. Let stand for about 5 minutes.
2. Mix in the salt, and gradually stir in the flour until you have a soft dough. Divide into 25 pieces, and form into balls. Place on baking sheets so they are 2 to 3 inches apart. Let rise for 20 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake the rolls for 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool slightly, then split them in half horizontally to fill with your favorite burgers.

Pizza Crust

Found this super easy recipe for pizza crust that we really love.

Ingredients

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 5 minutes.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Transfer crust to a lightly greased pizza pan or baker's peel dusted with cornmeal. Spread with desired toppings and bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let baked pizza cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Melly's Cornbread

My friend Melly has the best recipes for bread and well, for just about any and everything.  Here is her Cornbread. All of her recipes can be found at http://www.proverbs31homemaking.com/

1 cup flour
4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1 egg
Add ingredients to mixing bowl in order. Mix, but do not overbeat. Pour into greased 9x9 baking pan.
Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.