Tasty Pretzel Dippers Recipes and Video

Kitchen and Dumplings' third video features three yummy recipes for you and your family.

First, the pretzels. These golden-brown snacks aren't topped with salt like many of the processed pretzels found in stores. Mix up the dough and tailor them to your family's liking – crispy or chewy, sticks or twists. Grab your kid chefs and design some pretzel shapes!

Chef Taylor also shares two simple dip recipes to complement the pretzels.

Found in Greek kitchens, tzatziki holds a reputation as a bold dip with tons of flavor. It's tangy! Our cream cheese honey dip contains only two ingredients and satisfies those who crave a sweet snack. Creamy and delish!

If you're running short on time, or if you want a healthy alternative to pretzels, try dipping vegetables in the tzatziki sauce, or apple slices and other fruits in the cream cheese honey dip.

Pretzel Dough Recipe

Adapted from a pizza dough recipe featured in the children's book Pizza at Sally's, these instructions provide enough pretzel dough for a 16-inch pizza crust (8 servings). Cut the recipe in half to serve 4.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet active dry yeast (1 Tablespoon)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 4 1/2 cups flour
• cooking oil
• egg wash (optional)

Directions:

1. Pour the water into a mixing bowl.
2. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water.
3. Stir in 1 cup of flour and salt.
4. Add the next 3 cups of flour, one cup at at time, mixing well until dough is no longer sticky.
5. Knead the dough on a floured surface until the dough is smooth and elastic (approximately 8 to 10 minutes), while working in the remaining 1/2 cup of flour.
6. Form the dough into a ball.
7. Place the dough ball in a lightly oiled bowl, and cover with cloth or plastic wrap.
8. Let dough rise in a warm place for an hour until it has doubled in size.
9. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
10. Punch dough down to release air bubbles.
11. Form pretzels into shapes, and arrange them on an oiled baking sheet.
12. If you want your pretzels to have a glossy finish, brush them with egg wash.
13. Bake pretzels for 7 to 10 minutes. Thicker pretzels require more baking time and bake up chewy. Thinner pretzels turn out crispy.

Tzatziki Dip Recipe

Ingredients:

• 24-ounce plain Greek yogurt
• 1 medium-sized cucumber, peeled and thinly shredded with cheese grater
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped and loosely packed
• juice from 1 lemon
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Wash and peel cucumber.
2. Using a cheese grater, thinly shred peeled cucumber.
3. Place cucumber in small bowl.
4. Over the sink or a separate bowl, press and drain liquid from cucumber.
5. Peel and mince garlic.
6. De-stem and chop dill.
7. Slice lemon in two, and squeeze juice from both halves into a small bowl.
8. Place Greek yogurt in a medium-sized bowl.
9. Stir in cucumber, garlic, dill and lemon juice.
10. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Honey Cream Cheese Dip

Ingredients:

• 8-ounce plain cream cheese, softened
• honey (1/2 to 1 cup)

Directions:

1. Allow cream cheese to soften at room temperature.
2. Whip cream cheese until fluffy.
3. Stir in honey to reach desired sweetness.

Enjoy spending time in the kitchen with your little ones this holiday season. And don't forget to count your blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!

Until next time,

Tricia