Amazing Philadelphia Soft Pretzels

Are you hungry for an amazing soft pretzel, kind of like those you find at the mall?  Then this is the recipe for you!  I found this recipe from my beloved friend Jane Hunter.

Ingredients:

1 pkg. dry yeast

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 1/4 cups warm water

3-4 cups flour

2 tsp. salt

4 cups water

2 tsp. baking soda

Butter & Kosher salt

Directions:

(1) In large mixing bowl, combine warm water and sugar.  Sprinkle in yeast and allow it to sit and become foamy for 10 minutes.

(2)  Add 2 tsp. salt and 3 cups of flour.  Beat.  Add enough additional flour to knead.

(3) Knead for 10 minutes or until dough is very soft.  Place in a greased bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap.  Let rise 45 minutes or until double.

(4)  Divide dough into 12 small balls and roll on counter to form a skinny snake about 20" long.  Form each into pretzel shapes, pinching ends firmly.

(5) Dissolve 2 tsp. baking soda in 4 cups water and bring to a boil.  Preheat oven to 475 degrees.

(6) Drop pretzels in boiling water.  Boil for 1 minute - 30 seconds on each side.

(7) Remove from boiling water and place on paper towels before transferring to a buttered cookie sheet.

(8) Sprinkle moist pretzels with Kosher salt.

(9) Bake in preheated 475 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.  Remove just before they are golden brown and rub with unsalted butter.  Continue to bake until golden brown.

Bruschetta with Mozzarella

I've been waiting all summer for my heirloom Brandywine tomatoes to ripen...


...and FINALLY this afternoon I was able to thoroughly enjoy the intense flavor these marvelous tomatoes have to offer. I'm like a little kid waiting to open presents on Christmas morning as I await the rest of the green tomatoes to ripen as well.

But in the meantime I can enjoy this warm and delicious bruschetta. I highly recommend making it only with your heirloom tomatoes because the flavor will be out of this world delicious!

Ingredients:

1 ripe Brandywine tomato, diced.

1 Tbsp. onion of your choice

1 clove garlic

1 Tbsp. red-wine vinegar

3 Tbsp. olive oil

1 sprig fresh basil, chopped

Salt and pepper

French Bread slices

Mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions:
(1) Place the tomato, onion, garlic, vinegar, olive oil, and the basil in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Let season for 30 minutes.

(2) Meanwhile, lightly butter the bread slices. Place buttered slices on a cookie sheet and broil in the oven until just golden on both sides.

(3) Mound bread with the tomato mixture and top with desired amount of mozzarella cheese.

(4) Return to oven and broil until cheese has melted.

(5) Serve immediately.

Guacamole

Super easy. Super good. And good for you.

Ingredients:

2 Avocado's, ripe

3 Tbsp. fresh salsa

1/4 tsp. salt

3 Tbsp. sour cream

Juice of one lime

Directions:

(1) Cut avocados in half, remove pit. Using a spoon remove the "fruit" and place in a bowl.

(2) Add remaining ingredients and either (a) mash with a fork or (b) get out your mixer and whip it all together.

(3) Serve with tortilla chips.

Bacon Wrapped Brown Sugar Lit'l Smokies

The first time I had these little cholesterol bombs was at family wedding. My husband will volunteer me to make these for almost every party we have or plan to attend. In fact, people will come right up to me and ask me if I will make them and bring them to the party. They are not hard to make at all. Just hard to clean up.

Ingredients:
1 pkg. Hillshire Farms Lit'l Smokies - original
1-1lb bag of brown sugar
1 -1lb pkg of bacon (not thick sliced)
toothpicks

Directions:
(1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
(2) Cut strips of bacon into thirds.
(4) Wrap one Lit'l Smokie in a 1/3 of a strip of bacon. Secure with toothpick and line in a 9x13" pan. Continue to do this until all the Little Smokies are wrapped in bacon. You should have a full pan.
(5) Cover the Lit'l Smokies with the entire bag (yes, I said the entire bag) of brown sugar.
(6) Bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1-hour or until bacon begins to crisp.
(7) Can then be transferred to a crock-pot that is turned on warm or low. If you have a crock-pot liner I would highly recommend using it.
(8) Listen for your artery's to clog.

Fried Ravioli

These little fried pieces of goodness are so easy to make and so much easier to eat! I believe I found this sweet little recipe from a Taste of Home magazine.

Ingredients:
Frozen cheese ravioli
Italian bread crumbs
2 Tbs. olive oil

Directions:
(1) In a medium saucepan bring water to a rolling boil. Add frozen cheese ravioli.
(2) Boil ravioli for about 2-3 minutes or just until it starts to float.
(3) Once ravioli has boiled dredge through bread crumbs and completely coat.
(4) Place breaded ravioli in a frying pan with 2 Tbs. olive oil that is hot and ready for frying. If you're not sure the oil is hot enough you can test it by sprinkling a few drops of water in the oil, if the oil sizzles and pops it is ready for frying.
(5) Fry the ravioli until it is golden brown.
(6) Serve hot with marinara sauce or pizza sauce.