Pretzel Dogs

Happy weekend! And what better way to celebrate than with more pretzels! You may have noticed a theme on my blog - I find one thing that I newly love to make and just make it all the time in slightly different variations. Currently. I'm on a pretzel-theme - and there is more to come!

I love the versatility of pretzel-style breads. They all have a similar method - making dough, usually letting rise, forming into shape, then dipping into a bicarbonate bath before baking. It's not difficult, but it can be a bit fiddly. It's all worth it though, because it makes a delicious bread! The dough recipe probably makes slightly too much for one 10-pack of hotdogs, so because I can't throw anything away (thanks, nanny!) I used up the rest of the dough to make a few halloumi-dogs, and they were also fantastic, just as cheese baked in bread should be,

And this dense chewy bread of course also works really well with the soft, salty frankfurter. That equals the best kind of hot dog. And for me, a bitesize hot dog is total party food. I love making party food, because I love having parties. But having party food just for dinner is also excellent, in the same way that having breakfast food for dinner is excellent. It is a little bit of a treat, and I don't do it often, so it totally brightens up my day.

Quick Cinnamon Pretzels

One evening I thought to myself.. I want some pretzels. I've never made them before, but I want them NOW. And what is a girl to do, but rummage through her baking cupboard for the ingredients and just get cracking! There are no complex ingredients here, all of the bits needed are readily available to buy in any grocery shop, and I keep all of them on hand in my kitchen.

Aside from being no-nonsense from an ingredients point of view, it's also quick as anything, because it doesn't require any rising time for the yeast. You just mix, kneed, shape, blanch, bake and dip. It literally took less than an hour to have a tray full of cooling pretezels ready to be demolised.

And that's important when you have a craving to satisfy. We've all been there. Don't pretend.