Turtle Pretzels

Being home is amazing, but also a little bit of a pain for one reason: doctor's appointments. Went to have a general medication checkup with my doctor and had a hepatitis shot sprung on me. Surprise! So I went home, pouty and sore, to make some delicious potstickers for dinner. Oho! Who has two thumbs and got a rash from peeling shrimp? This guy! But after a three hour benadryl induced sleep, I'm all good. 

Oh hey there, lil buddy.

I saw these turtle shaped pretzels on the interwebs and I knew I had to make them. My sister has a thing for turtles, so it was a good bonding activity. We forgot to boil the first batch in baking soda water, so they just turned into turtle shaped breads. I had no idea baking soda played such a large roll in pretzel making. Apparently it helps make the pretzel-y crust and flavor, and speeds along that process overall. And it made the water foam up all awesomelike.

D'aw, it's so cute! So maybe it isn't all that turtle looking with its little nub head and legs. But we had a good time making them, making fun of each other, and of course, eating together. And that's what counts, right?

Turtles Eating Things !

Turtle Pretzels

from Kirbie's Cravings 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
2/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg

 salt for sprinkling on top

Directions

1. Combine the warm water, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes. Add the flour and butter and using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl. Remove the dough from the bowl, and place the dough in a glass bowl oiled with vegetable oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

2. Divide the dough into 16 pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 12 inch rope. Wrap the dough into a spiral shape. Pinch a large piece of the dough in the front to shape a head. Pinch little pieces where the feet and hands should be to form feet and hands and a small piece at the end for the tail.3. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

4. Using a large sauce pan, fill with water and bring and the baking soda to a rolling boil.

5. Place the pretzels into the boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Place pretzels on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silpat mat.

6. Beat one large egg. Brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg and sprinkle with salt (I used sea salt!). Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 6-7 minutes. After pretzels have cooled, add eyes to turtles. You can put drops of chocolate, or you can stick sprinkles or black sesame seeds in for eyes. I cut a poked a toothpick hole and stuck a seed inside.