Homemade Pretzels

Homemade Pretzels

(I know, I know... and you're welcome!)

 The perfect party pleaser, friend pleaser, husband pleaser, kid pleaser, basically a pleaser for anyone with taste buds. I have made this recipe so many times, for some many different reasons, and I have never had a single person not go back for seconds! I can still remember the first time I ever made these pretzels. I had just gotten married, moved to Florida and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my best friend, Brandi. I had been planning her trip to see me for weeks. All of the places I would take her, restaurants I would make her try and of course those fun little snacks for the house! We are the type of people who cannot pass up a warm, soft pretzels when we are out and about, so what better treat to surprise her with! I come from a long line of bread lovers, and knew my way around a bag of yeast and flour ;) I just knew I could do it. 

And I did!!!! YUM! 

  I continued to tweak my recipe while we were in Florida. I made them for my brother on his weekend laundry trips up from Daytona, my cousins Katie and Clare and friends when they would come visit, for all of our parties, for all of the parties we attended, until finally the recipe was perfect! (Well perfect to me and my #1 fan, my husband Adam!! If I recall correctly this was the first thing he ever truly complimented me on cooking wise). Oh yeah, this recipe is that good. 

One of the most fun experiences I have had with my pretzels was making them for my little, little cousins once I moved back, the Hincks family. They were spending the day with me and we were looking for a fun project to do together! So we made pretzels. After the dough was good to go (yes, I just made a rhyme), I sat each of the girls down at my kitchen table and handed them a ball of dough. They had so much fun making letters, shapes, flowers etc. We played and played and played until all of the dough was handled and placed onto cookie sheets. When it was all said and done the girls got to enjoy their artistic creations, and boy did they ever!

Many of you have tried to make this recipe, and many have failed. It's not your fault. There are some parts that are just difficult to understand and time consuming! So, I am going to give you the step by step BY STEP format with pictures!! I know you can do it! And trust me when I say your troubles to learn this recipe will be worth it!! Whether you are cooking them as an appetizer for a big party, a project/treat for your kids, or just a yummy night-time snack, these pretzels will never dissapoint! 

Ingredients:
1 packet active dry yeast
2 tsp. brown sugar
1 dash of salt
1 1/2 cups of hot water (110 degrees). I always just let the faucet get all the way hot and then use that water.
4 cups of all-purpose white flour
1 TBSP baking soda
1/4 cup warm water
1 stick of REAL BUTTER, preferably salted
Pretzel salt (I had heard people say that they like the regular salt just as much - I used regular salt in the early days of this recipe- So this is your choice.

Making the Magic:
(I am excited because this is the first time Collin has ever helped me with my pretzels).



Step 1: Combine the first 4 ingredients (yeast, brown sugar, salt and hot water) in a big bowl. Do not stir. Allow them to rest for 5 minutes.



Step 2: Stir flour into the mixture and knead for 5 minutes. Make sure the flour is packed in. Kneading basically means mixing it together, throw it, beat it, punch it. Use your hands! Don't be afraid to take the blob of dough out of the bowl to really mix it well.

Step 3: Cover the bowl with a damp towel, place bowl in a warm area and leave it sit for 60 - 80 minutes.

Step 4: Now that you have allowed the dough to rise, you are ready for rolling and shaping! So go ahead and preheat your oven to 550 degrees!
     What if my dough didn't rise?
           a) your yeast could have been old or expired
           b) the area was not warm enough
     Can I still use the dough if it didn't rise?
           a) Yes, I have done this several times. The biggest difference is  
           the fluffiness of the cooked pretzels. But they are still ok!!
   
Step 5: Shape the pretzels. Just a warning, this part is very time consuming. Most of the time, I just make pretzel sticks because that is the easiest and quickest way to do it. My favorite shape is the "cinnamon roll" shape. I think it holds the butter and salt the best! See below.

Step 6: Mix your baking soda and 1/4cup warm water together. (I normally do so on a big paper plate -it just works best for me).

             Step 7: THIS IS IMPORTANT! Don't forget this step. BEFORE you
             place your newly shaped pretzel onto the cookie sheet, roll the pretzel in
             this baking soda/water mix. (This is what browns your pretzel during
             cooking)!! Finally, place your pretzel on a greased cookie sheet.

             Step 8: Bake the pretzels, one tray at a time, in a 550 degree oven for
             8-10 minutes until golden brown!


         BEFORE                                                                        AFTER

  Step 9: Melt your stick of butter and then brush it over the top and bottom of each pretzel. MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS WHILE THE PRETZELS ARE STILL WARM!

Step 10: Add the salt immediately after applying the butter to the pretzel. Trust me, it sticks better.

VOILA! You just made soft pretzels. Now, take a bite and tell me that's not one of the best things ever!
SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND: You can put these pretzels in the freezer and they will last for days. (Probably longer, ours just never make it that long). The key to reheating these pretzels is to USE THE MICROWAVE. Trust me. When you are re-warming them always use the microwave!

I can't wait to share some of our dips and additional recipes that we use to go along with our famous pretzels. Stay tuned to our blog and we will be sure to give you more of our brilliant ideas... lol!

ENJOY!

A Frozen Treat or a Feel Better Remedy

A Frozen Treat or a Feel Better Remedy

I love popsicles! Who doesn't though, right? There is nothing better on a hot summer day than getting to feel that cold refreshing sensation on your tongue. Whether store bought or homeade, you really can't go wrong.  So why am I making this post now, right in the middle of winter? Great question and the simple answer is, my babies are sick. The poor little things, we just can't seem to get rid of this stomach virus. It is so hard as a parent when your children are sick, they are tired, confused, embarrassed, just plain miserable and it seems there is nothing you can do to help them.

I am not a doctor by any means, but when your child is sick, especially when bodily fluids are constantly on their way out, it is very important to keep them hydrated. But, sometimes taking a big drink of something just isn't the soothing answer that your child is looking for. That's the point we were at anyway. So my next step was simple, let's make popsicles. Not only will this be the perfect treat to hydrate my son, but this will also be an activity that he can help me with! So how do you make homeade popsicles exactly?

NEED:

ice cube tray

popsicle sticks (can be found in a local stores craft area)

LIQUID 

 ****you can use any type of drink you want for this activity! Have fun with it. You can use different flavors of gatorade, kool-aid, soft drinks, anything!! Make it fun for you child. Now if your babies are sick and dehydrated, like mine were, I would recommend pedialyte. (Pedialyte is what we used to make our popsicles!)

                      

          WHAT TO DO: 

          1) First you want to fill your ice cube tray(s)  
          up with the liquid of your choice. Fill about  
          3/4 full.

          2) Place your ice cube tray(s) into the freezer 

          and set a timer for 45 minutes. 

          3) Wait patiently     :)

         (this step may be harder on the children)

4) After 45 minutes has passed get your tray(s) out of the freezer and add your popsicle sticks. (Your popsicle tops will be frozen, this is good, just push the stick right through the middle of each popsicle). See picture below.

5) Put your tray(s) back into the freezer and leave them to sit for 1-2 hours. 

6) ENJOY!!! (and to all of our sick little ones, feel better soon!) 

I think I might have to try some of these with my favorite drink, Mountain Dew!!!

Caterpillars and Butterflies

Caterpillars and Butterflies

Life before kids, what a blur. I was working at least 50-60 hours a week in  the business of sales. I was leaving for work around 6 in the morning and not coming home until around 6 at night. I was getting the laundry done, I was cooking dinner, I was going to the grocery store, I was paying bills, and I was making time for all of the people in my life (aka. my busy husband who was busy working himself through law school). At this point in my life I used to think, "how great those stay at home mom's have it to be able to stay at home with the kids and play all day long." I just knew that if I ever became a stay at home mom things were going to be so easy!

Haha. 3 years later, when my son Collin was born, I became one of those stay at home moms. I was ready to play all day!! You can imagine how shocked I was as I started to realize how my time during the day began to vanish. I would barely get done feeding him and changing his diaper before it was time to start over and do it again. And the amount of laundry!! Oh my gosh, everyday. Baby clothes after baby clothes. Trying to clean the house and get dinner was an everyday challenge. Not to mention, trying to find "quiet time" to sit and pay bills. It was so hard. I just couldn't understand how I used to be out of the house 50-60 hours a week at my sales job and was able to get all of my housework done no problem, but now I was home all day and it seemed as though nothing was getting done. How is that even possible? And then baby #2 came along, hello Elle! Ok, so there went every free minute I thought I had. The running around was (IS) constant. 

Where is all of that "play with the kids all day long" like I thought? This just doesn't seem fair. I feel as if I have gotten caught up in this world of motherhood and was left out all of the perks.Well, if this playtime wasn't just going to magically appear I knew it was time to make some changes. I had to start making a point each and everyday to play with my kids. I know that sounds crazy, "having to make time to play" but that's the point I have gotten to. 

 I had seen online that a great activity to do with your 2 year old for fine motor development is to have them string beads onto pipe cleaners. Why not, I thought, let's try it. So I went to Walmart and paid about $3.00 for some supplies and we played. As we were stringing our pipe cleaner my son said, "look a caterpillar  mommy, you make the butterfly." It took me a minute to realize what in the world he was talking about and then it clicked. He was re-creating a story that he had heard several times before, "PROUD MOMMY MOMENT," and that story was "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." We decided to make this activity part of our routine and now we are going to share it with you! Isn't it funny how some of the best ideas can come from our kids?

What You Will Need: 

Pipe Cleaners (any color)

Beads (can be found in any crafting aisle)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Book

How to Play

(Really however you want to is fine!!!) Here's what we do. I will sit with Collin and read this book to him. I enjoy asking him questions along the way and having him point out specific things in the book. The more questions I ask, the more engaged he becomes.

 When we finish reading we begin creating. I always ask him what he will be making me. A butterfly or a caterpillar. "Let's just say he is very good at the caterpillar... lol!

I used to think being a stay at home mom was all about staying at home and playing with the kids, now I only wish that was the case. It is so important to make time to play and interact with our kids. I know we are busy, I mean isn't BUSY the very definition of motherhood in the dictionary??? But we have to remember, that our kids are special, and we are the only mother's they are ever going to have, So let's make memories they will cherish. Even if it is 10 minutes before bedtime because that is all of the free time we have, that is FINE! Our kids don't live off of time blocks and schedules like we do, they just live. And to them 10 minutes with mommy is better than no time at all! So moms, here's to my personal realization on how to play better with our kids in a mom's world.

DIY Growth Chart

Growth Charts

I can still remember as a child going into the laundry room with my mom and little brother every few months to see how much we had grown! It was always so exciting putting our back against the familiar wall while mom pressed the pencil right above our heads. How much?? was always the question and the answer was certain to bring a silly grin to our face. How many of you can remember those "childhood days?" 

In today's world, I feel as if those little moments are just over-looked, thanks to our "BUSY" lives. Although it isn't hard to simply measure our child's head against a wall, most of us have yet to start (me included). Why is that? Well let's look at this from our perspective, a mom's perspective. First of all, if I am going to make something for my children, (as a keepsake), I want it to be special. I don't want the ordinary, boring line against the laundry room wall. I want SPARKLES and GLITTER and PIZZAZZ and hey, who has the time to make something like that? (let me just say, I have no idea why I am this way, no idea. Maybe I use it as a defense mechanism, or maybe just as an excuse to keep myself from having to do so many things. Who knows)?  Second, what if I move? It's not like I could just rip the wall off and take it with me (and since our house is currently up for sale, why even bother starting). 

I could continue to make excuse after excuse, lord knows I could come up with them, but instead I am going to tell you that I finally broke down and JUST DID IT!!! Now it's your turn.

How to make a DIY growth chart!

To make it easier on us moms, I have put a few of the items you need on my website, www.ellebelly.com. Just head on over there from the comfort of your own computer and "add to cart." That makes it so much easier then trying to run out to every store trying to not only find a place that sells the chart but also the right-sized letters. 

You will need:

• A piece of MDF or any other type of wood you choose. Approximately 12"W, 37"L. To make it easy on you, just head over to your local lumber store! they can help!
• White Paint (or whatever color you choose to paint the wood)
• Growth chart scroll -purchase from www.ellebelly.com
• Letters (to spell out your child's name) - purchase from www.ellebelly.com (painted or not)
• Paint for the letters, (unless you order them already painted)
• We used Contact Cement, (but using hot glue would be fine, and cheaper)
• Staple Gun

********UPDATE!!!!!!
For all of those interested in making the growth charts, I stumbled across some great news at Hobby Lobby yesterday! I found a wood piece, a little smaller than what I used, but definitely useable. The wood is cut, sanded, and ready for painting. It is only $8.99. Plus anytime you shop at Hobby Lobby you can print off a 40% coupon off 1 regular priced item. Just go to their website and the tab that says coupon! You can get your board for only $5.39. AWESOME!! You can still use the same growth chart, you would just need to order the smaller letters. Make this growth chart for around $20.00!!

Method:

1)  Go to www.ellebelly.com and order the letters that you need. For shorter names, 6 letters and shorter choose product  LETTERS1. For names 7 letters and longer choose product LETTERS2. The letters can come painted or not, your choice!! 

2) Stay on www.ellebelly.com and order the growth chart scroll. They come in pink or blue. Exactly what is shown in the pictures. 

Once you receive your order from www.ellebelly.com you will need, 

3) A piece of MDF or wood (or any wood you choose) cut about 12"W, 37"L. When it comes to the thickness of the wood, the thinner the better,          (ex: 3/16th). You can head on over to your local lumber store and have the wood cut at no charge to you. At Home Depot you can walk out of the store with this wood for approximately $13.48. (If you aren't planning on moving, and wood like to place the growth chart directly on your wall at home, you do not need this piece of wood).

4) Paint (any type of paint will work just to spray or brush onto the board. Get creative moms!). I used a plain white paint. And hey, if you like the look of the wood, then don't even worry about painting it!!

If you choose to paint the letters yourself, feel free to use any paint. I bought my paint from my local craft store! 

Once you paint the MDF and the letters AND THEY DRY you will need,

  5) To attach the chart and letters to the board we used a staple gun and some contact cement. (I believe a hot glue gun would also be effective for the letters).Check out the pictures to see exactly how we attached our chart and our letters!

Fold over one side of the growth chart and use your staple gun to secure. (Do not staple the 2nd side of growth chart until after placing your contact cement on the backside!!)

Then brush your contact cement to the backside of the growth chart, let cure for approximately 15 minutes (follow directions on the contact cement can). Then press to the MDF or wood. (Press and hold.) If you are using hot glue instead of contact cement then do not cover backside of growth chart so thoroughly, it may create lumps.

At this point it is ok to staple the remaining side of your growth chart.

Finally, cover the backside of your letters with contact cement (again, follow the contact cement instructions) and then place them onto the MDF or wood. Be sure to apply pressure as you place each letter. (PRESS AND HOLD). We want to make sure everything is going to stick and be secure!

PRESTO! 

Congratulations! You have just created a growth chart! If you are feeling really crafty at this point feel free to add stickers and personalize! Now hang it in your child's room and start making memories! If you have any further questions just shoot us a message on our facebook page, Elle Belly BOWtique. And hey, post those designs, I would love to see your creativity!

Pat yourself on the back mom, you just created a memory for your child!! Who are we kidding, just another day in a mom's world!

It's a Mom's World

WOW, we are mothers. That means we are a personal chef, maid, chauffer, teacher, nurse, judge,  care-taker, cheerleader and so much more. We are the first person our children see when they wake up in the morning and the last person they see before they go to bed. We are role-models, guidance counselors and the one person that can kiss the wound and make everything better. We are blessed to know a special kind of love, because  there really is no stronger bond than a mother's love.

I have two small children. My son Collin will be 3 in May. What an exciting ride he has taken us all on! So much fun and full of life. Sometimes a little too full of it... lol! Isn't it a scary thought when you realize that they are already smarter than you. My daughter Elle will turn 1 in March. I have never seen a happier child. So full of smiles! I thank God for the opportunity to be their mother each and everyday, (yes, even the bad days). When my daughter Elle was born I ventured into a whole new world, the world of a stay at home mom. And, I thought sales was a tough job, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

With the love and support of my husband Adam, I was able to expand my horizons as a stay at home and open up a little girls boutique, ELLE BELLY BOWTIQUE. Check it out, www.ellebelly.com! I have learned more about bows, tutus and accessories then I ever thought possible! I love it! Each day brings something new and exciting, whether it is meeting a new customer or engaging in new product ideas. I just love crafting and creating!

With my new busy schedule I try to work really hard to make the most of my time with my babies. That is what this blog is all about. Fun activities do to with your children, do it yourself projects to make a mom's life easier around the house, easy and affordable recipes that everybody can love and most importantly what it's like to live "in a mom's world!" So let's get started: