Auntie Ann's Pretzels

 1 1/2 cup warm water

 1 1/8 tsp. active yeast (1 1/2 pkg)

 2 Tbs. brown sugar

 1 1/8 tsp. salt

 1 cup bread flour

 3 cups regular flour

 2 cups warm water

 2 Tbs. baking soda

 To taste coarse salt

 2−4 Tbs. butter (melted)

How To :

 Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Add

 sugar, salt, and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth

 and elastic. Let rise at least 1/2 hour.

 While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm

 water and 2 Tbs. baking soda. Be certain to stir often.

 After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope

 (about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. Dip pretzel into soda solution

 and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzel to rise again. Bake in a

 450 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted

 butter and enjoy!

 Toppings:

 After you brush with butter try sprinkling with coarse salt.

 Or for Auntie Anne's famous cinnamon sugar, try melting a stick of butter

 in a shallow bowl( big enough to fit the entire pretzel) and in another

 bowl, make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. dip the pretzel into the

 butter, coating both sides generously. then dip again into the cinnamon

 mixture.