Pretzel Rolls

When I'm lacking inspiration in the kitchen (which is frequently), I hit up the archives of my favorite cooking and baking blogs to see if anything jumps out at me. I probably passed over this recipe from Smitten Kitchen a dozen times before finally giving it a read, which now makes me sad because Pretzel Rolls could have been in my life so much sooner!

Delicious, albeit kinda fug

Recipes with seemingly complicated steps usually get moved to the "maybe someday" file - not because I don't think I am capable, but because I am trying to work within the confines of nap time or the blessed few minutes here and there when Stella is not demanding my complete attention. Oh, I've tried including her more in my kitchen time. Most recently I let her have at our tupperware cabinet which was terribly fun until she tried to flop herself forward into a crawling position and met the cabinet door face first. Ever try explaining to a possibly concussed baby that you'll be with her as soon as you free yourself from the stickiest yeast dough ever? It doesn't go over well. So, to the point, I am a big fan of cookies I can mix up during one nap, throw in the refrigerator, and bake off during the next nap. Likewise, breads that are thrown together in one minute and hang out for 18 hours to rise, and so on. 

This recipe, with its carefully-timed double rise, boiling, and baking seemed like it might be a disaster, but through some miracle (the incredibly rare baby disposition of content-to-play-within-eyesight and then eagerly-taking-a-long-nap, perhaps?) it all came together, producing rolls that were homely but amazingly delicious. Whether hot from the oven and spread with butter, or cold and slightly stale the next day, these are the tastiest little breads I've made so far. Make them. You will not be sorry.

Equally edible is our chubby little goose, who is turning 10 months old tomorrow - a fact I can't quite wrap my head around. It seems impossible that she has been bringing us so much joy, laughter, and exhaustion for nearly a year.

Didn't you like, JUST bring me home from the hospital?

Her latest act (apart from getting herself stuck under various furniture and playthings) is extending an arm, palm up, and babbling away in her baby language like she is delivering a Shakespearean soliloquy. Very dramatic, this one. She is still working on pulling herself up to standing, which more often than not ends poorly and with tears. It will be a miracle if she makes it through her toddler years with all the blows she sustains to the head. And yet, she remains fearless and determined. You gotta love her. 

Well, lunch is over and now I must scrape black beans off the floor, high chair, and child. Next time I have a super easy recipe for focaccia bread and then maybe I will get back into sweets for a while. Later!