Pretzel/bagel recipe - Success of my 1st try

It has been long time I haven't tried to knead the dough myself and shape the dough, it is because of lots of failures I had... 

The dough usually can't be shaped because I didn't knead enough, they look flat :'(
Failures discouraged me to make it. Oh, I ain't brave enough to face the challenge!

Today I can tell you, I'm successful! I feel proud to overcome this difficulty and I made it! and I think I manage to knead the dough to the right texture - well, I'm still discovering the technic though :)

Another factor is that the humidity and the room temperature are crucial for the dough to rise. I will try it in different weather condition later - haha it's like doing experiments!

I can't wait to share this recipe with all of you today - Pretzel!
You can of course shape it to something else if you don't like the shape of pretzel :)

Oops, I just realize that the middle of the pretzel is not twisted haha. It's too late to take another photo because they are now all gone :s

I made it as bagel - so yummmmmm :)

Actually pretzel and bagel share more or less the same recipe, so I use it for both :p


Ingredients
1cup milk
7g active dry yeast
3tbsp brown sugar
2 1/4cups flour (You can use 1cup whole wheat flour & 1 1/4cup all-purpose flour)
2tbsp butter
1tsp salt (fine)

1/3cup baking soda
2tbsp salt (coarse)

8tbsp butter

Instructions
1. Warm milk (luke) & add yeast inside and wait for 5 mins

2. Add brown sugar and 1 cup flour, mix well
Note: I added sugar in the first step because sugar flavors the yeast to be more active

3. Add in 2 tbsp butter, and then 1 1/4cup flour & fine salt

4. Flour the working surface, knead the dough for 20-30mins (machine:7-10mins) and add more flour if needed
Note: kneaded by hand until the dough is flexible enough when you pull a bit of the dough

5. Grease the bowl; shape the dough into ball, put it in the bowl and cover it with a plastic wrap. Let it rise for about 1h or until the size is doubled

6. Preheat the oven to 230°c. Punch the dough when the size is doubled. Divide it into 6 pieces, then roll out the dough to a long rope (30" long) to form the pretzel shape

Here is the instruction how to shape the pretzel :)

7. In another bowl: mix baking soda with 3 cups warm water
Notes: I didn't use the given quantity because you won't be able to use up it at the end, so I only use 1/3 of the quantity given in the recipe

8. Line the baking sheet on the tray; dip the dough on this baking soda mixture and then put it on the tray, sprinkle the surface with coarse salt

9. Bake for 10-12mins. Take out the pretzels when it's ready, dip them in melted butter. Let it cool down

Enjoy!

My facebook page

Actually I start my facebook page few years ago, but I was lazy to update it... :( 

Since last year, I started using it again, I found that I really enjoy sharing the photos of my bakings, crafts, crochet... 

And... my friends told me they are inspired when they see my photos posted on the page. That is the main motivation for me to continue doing it :)

You are welcome to have a look at My facebook page, I hope that will bring you joy and inspiration when you visit my page :)
Thank you!

Apple cinnamon cake with recipe

It's warm over here this week ;) I wanted to make an apple tart last week for my friends, but we cancelled the meeting :( Ah... I wanted to eat apple dessert but I'm quite lazy to make apple tart :p so I end up making an apple cinnamon cake today!

It is an easy recipe (Again!) I really like mixing all ingredients together and put it in the oven :)
What I like in this recipe is that it suggests putting the sliced apples in the middle of the cake.

Ingredients:
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter at room temperature
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup milk
1 apple (peeled & chopped or sliced)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon (can be more if you like the taste of cinnamon)

Instructions:
1. Mix butter and sugar together, add in eggs (one by one) and vanilla

2. Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda & then milk

3. Grease the pan, then pour half of the mixture to the pan, place the chopped/sliced apple on the surface, then add half of the brown sugar and cinnamon

4. pour the rest of the mixture over the apple, place again the apple on the surface, then add the rest of the brown sugar and cinnamon

5. Put it in the oven and bake it for 40 mins or until the middle of the cake is well done (put a toothpick into the middle and pull it out to see if it is dry)

Note: if you found that the surface looks a bit wet, don't be panic because there is juice in the apple, as long as the middle of the cake is dry, it means it is ready.