Soft Pretzels!

Boiling them!

Ready to eat!

For the first time, I made Soft Pretzels. I just woke up wanting to cook and pulled out my bread machine. (For some, that might seem like a miracle, I know! It’s been awhile since I really wanted to make the effort to make something like this)

My bread machine came with a wonderful recipe for these so I gave it a try. The process was a bit time-consuming but when they came out of the oven after rising, being shaped, boiled, dunked and baked, I can tell you that they were worth the time. They were a bit crispy on the outside and then soft and chewy inside. We dipped them in butter and then 1/2 of them in cinnamon sugar and 1/2 in a garlic herb seasoning.

Mmm!

Patriotic Fruit Boats for Kids

Over July 4th, 9 of my nieces and nephews were at my house for a BBQ. I came up with this treat for our tea party as a twist from a magazine I had seen.

Fun kitchen project to do with kids!

5 Red delicious Apples

1-2 C Blueberries

1 C. Cool Whip

1/2 C Mini marshmallows

7-8 Lg Strawberries, cut long ways (to make sails)

Mini skewers

Wash all fruit and pat dry

Slice apple in half straight down the center

Put large tablespoon of cool whip on each apple in center

Insert blueberries, and strawberries alternately on skewer and then spear into center of ea. apple

Add additional blueberries around the skewer on top of the cool whip

Set in pan with low amount of water, or in pan filled with marshmallows

to serve

Makes 10 boats