Neujarhrs pretzel

An another new year , the first month of the year ....it seems it was 2 days prior that this month has started ,but actually its mid Jan ...phew!!!the days are passing by.... as a blink of an eye.For this months baking partners challenge  we were suggested 2 recipes by Swetha of Tasty curry leaf .

One was a pizza and the other one was this Neujarhs pretzal.I went with the second one as I was very keen to try the shape and the  smell of bread, baking in the oven drives me more crazy towards it  .

These  are a speciality across Europe especially Germany. They are supposed to bring Good Luck and Prosperity if consumed at midnight or before breakfast on New Year’s Day.

There are several stories behind the origin of these and also pretzel is the universal bakers emblem. Its neither sweet as cake nor plain as bread. What makes the New Years Pretzel separate from other breads is the icing and decoration with candied cherries and nuts.It is a simple recipe as of bread but the hero of this recipe is the shape .....

My kids loved the shape of the pretzel so much that S started asking me the shape and was keen to try it with her play dough .

I have quartered the given recipe to suit to my needs,you can double the recipe .I have avoided the icing part as my kids had severe cough ,you can go with it .

Now over to the recipe .....

INGREDIENTS 

•  6 tbsp warm milk
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp warm water
• 3/4 tsp instant  yeast + 1/2 tsp sugar 
• 1 1/2 cup A p f(maida)
• 1 egg

    FOR ICING

• 3/4 cup icing sugar 
• 1 tsp vanilla or Almond extract
• water as needed
• Almonds to Garnish 

METHOD

1. In a bowl mix yeast +sugar in warm water ,stir it and set aside  for 10 mints in a warm place ,
2. To a mug add milk ,butter , sugar and microwave for 20_30  secs or until warm .
3. Stir it so that butter melts completely .
4. Take flour in a bowl add butter mix, yeast mix and egg knead it to form a dough .
5. Take this flour on dusted kitchen counter  and knead for 10 mints  to make a soft dough .
6. grease the bowl and place the dough.
7. Cover the bowl with a cling film and place it in a warm place .
8. Let the dough rise until double ...it may take 1 hr.
9. Remove the dough and knead it.
10. Divide the dough into 4 -5 parts.
11. Roll each ball into a long rope and make a u shape to make a pretzel .
12. You can refer this video for the shape of a pretzel .
13. Place the pretzels on a parchment paper in a baking tray and let it rise for other 1 hour .
14. Brush with some milk  
15. Bake in a preheated oven at 175 c for 15 - 20 mints until golden brown .

NOTES

1. Good kneading is the key to a good baked by product ,so knead well.
2. .The second rise is essential for a softer pretzel,so do not avoid it .