Auntie Ann's Pretzels

1 1/2 cup warm water
1 1/8 tsp. active yeast (1 1/2 pkg)
2 Tbs. brown sugar
1 1/8 tsp. salt
1 cup bread flour
3 cups regular flour

2 cups warm water
2 Tbs. baking soda

To taste coarse salt
2-4 Tbs. butter (melted)

Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Add
sugar, salt, and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth
and elastic. Let rise at least 1/2 hour.

While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm
water and 2 Tbs. baking soda. Be certain to stir often.

After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope
(about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. Dip pretzel into soda solution
and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzel to rise again. Bake in a
450 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted
butter and enjoy!

Toppings:

After you brush with butter try sprinkling with coarse salt.
Or for Auntie Anne's famous cinnamon sugar, try melting a stick of butter
in a shallow bowl( big enough to fit the entire pretzel) and in another
bowl, make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. dip the pretzel into the
butter, coating both sides generously. then dip again into the cinnamon
mixture.