3/4 c. warm water
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. sugar
2 c. unsifted all purpose flour
1 egg
Sesame seeds or Kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Grease the foil lightly.

Measure the warm water into a large bowl. The water should fell pretty warm when you stick your finger in it.

Sprinkle the yeast on the warm water and stir until the yeast dissolves. Add the salt, sugar and flour. Stir well. Then mix and knead the dough with your hands for about 5 minutes. You can do this on a floured board. The dough should not be too dry or too sticky.

Cut the dough into 12 pieces with a table knife. Put some flour on your hands. Roll 1 piece of dough back and fourth between the palms of your hands to form a dough rope about 10 inches long. Now twist the rope into a letter, number, or pretzel shape. Repeat with remaining pieces of dough.

Put pretzels on cookie sheet. In a small bowl, beat egg with a fork. Brush pretzels with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds or kosher salt. Bake pretzels for about 12 to 15 minutes. Makes 12 pretzels.