Homemade Soft Pretzels

I just love the pretzels at the mall and when my sister told me about this recipe, I had to try it!  I've been making them for over two years now and they are a family favorite.  For the price of a mall pretzel, I can make 16 pretzels.  Plus, they are healthier and freeze great!


Buttery Soft Pretzels

Ingredients:

4 teaspoons active dry yeast 1 teaspoon white sugar 1 1/4 cups warm water 4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 tablespoon vegetable oil   For the Pretzel Wash 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 by hand or 3 minutes if using a Kitchen Aid. 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 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, wash each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
5.	Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, until browned. Original Buttery Soft Pretzel Recipe from AllRecipes *Don't skip the pretzel wash.  I tried doing without it once and the pretzels tasted like ordinary white bread.*

Weekly Goals, October 7, 2013

Last week flew by! I had taken a couple of days off from work which made my last week go by super quick.  I'm done for the year and it's like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

Last week's goals...

September 30, 2013

1) Create New Goal Outline Check

 

2) Walk 3 Times Not done

 

3) Clean off Patio  Partially Complete

 

 

 

 

Goals for the Week of October 7, 2013

 

Home:

 

1) Go to Bed With A Clean Kitchen Every Night

 

2) One Load Of Laundry A Day

 

3) Clean and Organize Den

 

Errands:

 

1) Pick Up Yarn For Christmas Gifts and Scarf Order

 

2) Post Office

 

Homeschool:

 

1) Set Up Writing Center

 

2) Bulletin Board for Children's Goals, Memory Verse, Chore List and Calendar

 

3) Leaf Project

 

4) Morning Devotions

 

5) Go For Walk x 3

 

Personal:

 

1) Go For A Walk While Husband Can Watch the Boys x 2

 

2) Begin reading "The Ministry of Motherhood"

 

Marriage:

 

1) Complete Home Work for Dave Ramsey Class

 

2) Set Goals for How To Use Extra Money

Week Five of the Spending Freeze Challenge

We did it.  We conquered and overcame an entire month of spending no extra money and keeping expenses to a minimum.  Although my husband and I had different ideas on how to handle any extra money that came our way, we stopped using our paychecks for things that we could totally live without.

 

Plan ahead.

 

The children are going to get hungry and thirsty.  By planning ahead and bringing simple snacks and water, we avoided the $3-$5 purchases at gas stations and fast food places.  Don't forget about yourself.  You're going to get hungry and thirsty, too and it's so easy to spend when you're not thinking clearly.

 

 

Eat dinner before you go.

 

I met some friends this week for an informal get together.  While their salads and frappes looked yummy, I was able to stick with my plan because I had eaten before I left.  I even remembered to bring a bottle of water.

 

 

Find simple and inexpensive ways to treat yourself.

 

It was our last week of work and I typically purchase a meal out every day at these times.  (When we have students, meals are provided for the teachers so we can eat with the students but our last day of school was the week before.)  I used a coupon for a free sandwich with the purchase of a drink for Monday and used the change I found in my van to pay for that.  I brought my lunch from home on Tuesday and then a friend ended up taking me out.  Wednesday and Thursday I had off and Friday I treated myself to a meal with my co-workers.  I got water and the lunch special and only spent $10, including the tip.

 

In my family, it is a HUGE deal to be allowed to eat dinner in front of the t.v.  I rented a $1.28 movie from red box, picked up a frozen pizza for $3.33 and made homemade hot chocolate.  The boys really enjoy the special treat and I feel like we're still having fun without having to spend the $50 for dinner at a restaurant and a movie at the theatre.

 

 

We spent $100.82 on groceries this week.  The extra 82 cents was due to a meal flop.  I had made homemade bread one evening for grilled cheese sandwiches and found out that Almond Milk can not be used as a substitute for cow's milk.  Had to switch things around and picked up an extra item at the store.

This week we paid all the bills due and those coming up and were able to put a small chunk of money in to savings. 

We're making huge progress...

To read more about our Spending Freeze challenge, click on this link: Frugal Living

The Woman Who Fears the Lord #10

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

 

A Study of Proverbs 31

Verse 19

 

"In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers."

 

I had no idea what a distaff was.  Good thing we live in an age where Goggle helps answer our questions.  Thanks to Disney, I knew what a spindle was. 

 

 

 

Our dear friend, Mrs. Proverbs, took care of her household in everyway.  She was a jack of all trades.  If she had a resume it would include the skill of using a staff (which holds the wool, flax, etc. without letting it get tangled) and a spindle (which spins the wool, flax, etc. into thread, yarn, etc.)

 

Before factories, Walmart, Kohls and JoAnn Fabrics you had to make your own material for clothes, curtains, tablecloths, towels, etc. 

 

Thank goodness we live in the 21st century.  I can't see my husband herding and sheering sheep while I wait for him at home with my distaff and spindle. 

The mental picture makes me laugh.

 

How then, can we use this verse to strengthen and encourage us?

 

 

Clothing my family is hard work.

 

Although it may seem easy to go out and purchase what we need at the store instead of starting from scratch like our friend, Mrs. Proverbs, we do have our own challenges to face.

 

My current challenge is how to get the clothes we need and still keep within our budget.

 

My husband has needed to replace his holey shirts and pants for while now.

 

I noticed both of our son's pants were looking a little short the other day.

 

And me?  I'm still trying to figure out where my clothes are going to fit.

 

For now, I'm going to focus on them and pray that the answer comes to me.

 

 

Things in the 21st century can be just as complicated as when King Solomon wrote Proverbs 31.

 

Not staff and spindle complicated, but still complicated indeed.

 

 

 

 

A link to the series "The Woman Who Fears the Lord"

Weekly Goals, September 30, 2013

Last weeks goals and the progress I made...

Goals for September 23, 2013

1) Money Management Check (Pun Intended)

Daily checking the accounts and balancing the checkbook and staying on task with our spending.

2) Daily Devotions  Done

I have been forgetting a lot the last few weeks so it's time to refocus!

3) Walk 3 Times  Done

4) Clean Kitchen Cabinet Doors  Done

5) Autumn Decorations  Done

 

 

 

1) Create New Goal Outline

 

My seasonal job will end this week and I have a mass amount of goals and ideas swimming through my head.  I need to take some time to write them all down, sort them out and organize them.

 

2) Walk 3 Times

 

3) Clean off Patio

 

 

 

Wonder why you don't see some goals on here anymore?  I try to implement goals for about 4 weeks to create a new habit, like doing a load of laundry everyday, going to bed every night with the dishes clean, etc.  Once I have developed the new habit, you won't see it again unless I notice that bad habits have returned.

Week Four of the Spending Freeze Challenge

Four weeks have passed since my husband and I agreed to stop any and all unnecessary spending.

WE  C H A L L E N G E D  O U R S E L V E S  T O  A  S P E N D I N G  FREEZE

Our mortgage fell through about a week before we were supposed to close on a home.  While the timing was not something we caused, the reason it happened belonged to us.

I'm not sure what the future holds but the last month has been a real eye opener for us.



We decided to give ourselves a minimal grocery budget of $100 per week and stopped any and all extra driving to help keep fuel costs to a minimum.  The only spending money that was allowed was $1.00 for each of the boys to spend at the weekly soccer games.

This week, I spent $90.13 for groceries.  I saved the $9.87 for the following week so that I can get coffee.  I have a Kurig Vue and allow myself one cup of coffee per day and a package of Vue packs lasts me a little more than 2 weeks.  It's one luxury that could be cut out if needed.  Thankfully, it's not needed yet!

The biggest thing that made a difference this month is not eating out.  We have not bought any family meals at restaurant for the month of September.  (I bought a meal at McDonalds for myself earlier this month.)  This is a huge accomplishment for us.  Huge.

We usually nickel and dime our way to having no money.  Swipe the debit card here.  Pay a couple dollars in cash there.  Rationalize this purchase by using a coupon.  All of these small purchases leave us behind on bills and living paycheck to paycheck.  This month was drastically different.

I just paid our first October bill on September 27.  That's right, four days early. 
(Can you tell I am super excited!!)

We're officially caught up and ahead on things.

My husband and I discussed how successful this month was and I asked him what he felt we needed to do to save the money needed for a home purchase.   He suggested another Spending Freeze month and I quickly agreed. 

The only difference for October's Spending Freeze is that we're going to budget in a small amount of cash for each of us to spend.

I'm a little nervous about October.

It was easy for me to be on a Spending Freeze while I was working.  (Maybe not easy, but easier.)

Starting October 5th, I'll be home with our two children and some old habits are going to have to be thrown out with the trash.

Let's see if I'm up to the challenge.  :-)


To read more about our Spending Freeze challenge, click on this link: Frugal Living

Caterpillar Update: Chasing Butterflies

We had finally reached the last two caterpillars for the season.  They made their chrysalis and my job of collecting milkweed for 2013 was done.

 

 Diego and Teddy

 



 

 

Teddy

 

 

 

 

Diego

 

 

 

Diego landed in a tree in our backyard and while we were watching him, we noticed another monarch butterfly on a neighboring branch.  The boys got all excited and said that it must be Teddy.  So, Teddy and Diego are out there having a wonderful time together.  :-)

 

 

 

And our cats, Streaky and Stormy, are happy to have free reign on the sun porch.

http://seekhispurpose.blogspot.com/p/nature-study.html