There's a Chick-fil-A in MA?? When I lived in Boston, the only one I knew of whatsoever was in the Science building at Harvard - and that closed in June 2003.
I've been trying out various recipes over the past week or so - Belita's, the one posted here on this thread, and two others I found online - and I think I may have cracked this. Here's the recipe I put together to make the ones in the photo (just need to work on making thinner ropes of dough!):
2 c warm water
1 tbsp yeast
4 tbsp melted butter (unsalted)
3 tbsp dark brown sugar
1.5 tsp table salt
1.5 c strong white bread flour
4 c all-purpose flour
2 c warm water
2 tbsp baking soda
melted butter, coarse salt, and/or cinnamon sugar, for topping
Mix yeast in warm water until dissolved.
Add butter, salt and brown sugar; mix until dissolved.
Add flour; mix until incorporated.
Cover with tea towel and let rise in warm room for one hour.
On floured surface, roll dough into long strips approx. 18" in length.
Twist into pretzel shape and set aside onto greased surface.
Prepare baking soda and water mixture by adding soda to warm water and whisking until dissolved.
Dip each pretzel into soda water mixture then place on greased baking sheet; sprinkle with salt.
Let rise for thirty minutes, then bake for 4-6 minutes at 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
Brush hot pretzels with melted butter and add more salt, if desired, or cinnamon sugar.
Let me know if you try it and have any suggestions!
