1 pkg. dry yeast
3/4 c. warm water
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. sugar
2 c. sifted flour
Coarse salt (kosher salt)
2 tbsp. milk or water

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl. Be sure water feels comfortably warm to the inner wrist. If water is too hot, the yeast will die. Stir gently to dissolve.

3. Sprinkle sugar over yeast and allow to grow for about 5 minutes.

4. Stir in flour and salt and knead dough in the bowl until smooth. This may take 10 minutes. Children can take turns kneading. Add any food coloring here, be generous.

5. Turn dough out on floured board. Dough should be a little sticky, but shouldn't stick to your board!

6. Have each child pinch off a section of dough 2" in diameter and roll it into a rope, about 12" to 14" long.

7. Form into a pretzel by shaping the rope into a circle, grasping the 2 ends, and twisting them around each other several times. Then bring the twisted ends across through the center of the circle to press the ends into the point opposite on the rim, thus forming 2 halves divided by the twisted ends.

8. Place on greased baking sheet. Brush with water or milk. Sprinkle liberally with salt, coarse or regular is fine!

9. Bake immediately 10 to 12 minutes, until nicely browned. When using colored dough, watch more closely as very few will look browned, but will be done. Yield: 12 (6") pretzels.

VARIATIONS:

Shape away! Let children invent their own shapes: letters, numbers, names, flowers, shapes, simple figures and more.

Use poppy seeds, sesame seeds, chocolate sprinkles, cinnamon, sugar, jam or anything you like.