this is a page for
Browsing Tag: oktoberfest
Check out the Beer Brats with Onions (next recipe) that go so well with these pretzels!!
~~~~~~~~~~
First, make the pretzels…
Step One.
Prep Step! Measure out all of your ingredients, for both recipes. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Set your water and baking soda to boil over high heat. Line a baking sheet with silicone or parchment paper.
Step Two.
Make the pretzels. In a large bowl, mix the yeast into the warm water, and let it set for about 15 minutes. Whisk in the butter, sugar, and salt. Next, slowly add the flour as your stir the mixture.
Step Three.
On a surface dusted with flour, knead the dough for about 5 minutes, or until it is not sticky and is super stretchy. This means that the gluten bonds are forming appropriately. This is my favorite step – I definitely recommend whipping up a batch if you’re ever stressed out!
Step Four.
Put the kneaded dough back into the bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let set for another ten minutes.
Step Five.
Now, pinch off a handful of dough. Roll and stretch it until it is a long tube, about 20 inches. Fold it into a “U” shape, then twist the end. Fold over the ends until it makes a recognizable pretzel shape.
Step Six.
Make sure that the water is at a rolling boil. Have your baking sheet ready. Place the pretzels, one at a time, on a slotted spoon, and dip into the water for 30 seconds. Place the pretzels on the baking sheet, sprinkle with coarse sea salt, and bake for about15 minutes, until they are golden brown.
Next, make the cheese dip…
Step One.
Prep Step! Measure out your ingredients.
Step Two.
First, we make a roux! Melt the butter in a pot. Slowly whisk in the flour. Cook for 8-10 minutes, until the roux is a little brown; this means that the flour has cooked well. Whisk in the beer and cook until the mixture has become thicker. Add and stir in the cream cheese. When it is fully incorporated, mix in the cheese and stir until it is all melted.
Step Three.
Add the half and half until the cheese is the consistency you want for dipping. Now, this is usually where the recipe stops. But please add salt, pepper, mustard, paprika… whatever you want until the taste is just perfect for you! Serve warm with the hot pretzels!
Ingredients
- SOFT PRETZELS
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1 packet yeast
- 1 Tbsp melted butter
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 cups flour
- BEER CHEESE
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 1/8 cup flour
- 1 cup flavorful beer, such as an Oktoberfest brew
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 8 oz white cheddar cheese, shredded
- salt, pepper, mustard, paprika to taste
Instructions
- First, make the pretzels...
- Prep Step! Measure out all of your ingredients, for both recipes. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Set your water and baking soda to boil over high heat. Line a baking sheet with silicone or parchment paper.
- Make the pretzels. In a large bowl, mix the yeast into the warm water, and let it set for about 15 minutes. Whisk in the butter, sugar, and salt. Next, slowly add the flour as your stir the mixture.
- On a surface dusted with flour, knead the dough for about 5 minutes, or until it is not sticky and is super stretchy. This means that the gluten bonds are forming appropriately. This is my favorite step - I definitely recommend whipping up a batch if you're ever stressed out!
- Put the kneaded dough back into the bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let set for another ten minutes.
- Now, pinch off a handful of dough. Roll and stretch it until it is a long tube, about 20 inches. Fold it into a "U" shape, then twist the end. Fold over the ends until it makes a recognizable pretzel shape.
- Make sure that the water is at a rolling boil. Have your baking sheet ready. Place the pretzels, one at a time, on a slotted spoon, and dip into the water for 30 seconds. Place the pretzels on the baking sheet, sprinkle with coarse sea salt, and bake for about15 minutes, until they are golden brown.
- Next, make the cheese dip...
- Prep Step! Measure out your ingredients.
- First, we make a roux! Melt the butter in a pot. Slowly whisk in the flour. Cook for 8-10 minutes, until the roux is a little brown; this means that the flour has cooked well. Whisk in the beer and cook until the mixture has become thicker. Add and stir in the cream cheese. When it is fully incorporated, mix in the cheese and stir until it is all melted.
- Add the half and half until the cheese is the consistency you want for dipping. Now, this is usually where the recipe stops. But please add salt, pepper, mustard, paprika... whatever you want until the taste is just perfect for you! Serve warm with the hot pretzels!
Ein Prosit! I love Oktoberfest and German celebrations. Not just because it includes my favorite type of food, great beer, and a good time, but because of my memories. I cherish every moment I have spent with my grandparents, and some of my fondest memories involved polka dancing with my grandpa and grandma. They are the best dancers and the cutest couple I know, and I miss them so much (to clarify: they are very much alive, I just don’t live near them anymore, and out times together are rare).
So, here’s to you Pope-pope and Grandpa. I love you forever and miss you so much!
~~~~~~~~~~
Beer Brats, Just Like Mama Used to Make
Step One.
Prep Step! Set up your crockpot. Chop up the onions, nice and thin. Get your grill going (or a grill pan, pan, whatever you’ve got). Taste test your beer of choice 😉
Step Two.
Grill those brats, just until they are browned.
Step Three.
Add the onions and brats to the crockpot. Use a liner if you have it – it makes clean-up SO much easier! Add beer until the brats and onions are completely covered. Cook on low for 8 hours until those brats are nice and done. Low and slow – they will melt in your mouth!
Step Four.
When they are done, serve it up with a healthy scoop of onions, a bun if you like, and some good, German mustard.
Delicious brats that melt in your mouth!
Ingredients
- a dozen brats
- 2 onions
- 4+ beers (quality doesn't matter too much)
- ...and that's it!
Instructions
- Prep Step! Set up your crockpot. Chop up the onions, nice and thin. Get your grill going (or a grill pan, pan, whatever you've got). Taste test your beer of choice 😉
- Grill those brats, just until they are browned.
- Add the onions and brats to the crockpot. Use a liner if you have it - it makes clean-up SO much easier! Add beer until the brats and onions are completely covered. Cook on low for 8 hours until those brats are nice and done. Low and slow - they will melt in your mouth!
- When they are done, serve it up with a healthy scoop of onions, a bun if you like, and some good, German mustard.
Enjoy your Oktoberfest fare with a stein of cold beer and some good music!
