I've always wished I could be a salty person, dishing out my opinions like nobody's business, but that wasn't how I was born. I was born with a calm, sweet demeanor that can shrink down when threatened.
If only I could be that swash buckling Zoro type! I would slay my enemies down to size with my words - but in the moment I freeze. This ties into my recipe of salty delicious homemade pretzels which I'll talk more about later.
The salty side is so attractive. I have been amazed by others saying their thoughts without an ounce of regret and confidence to die for. (At least that is how it seems on the outside.) I used to cast such envy on these "slayers of words." I wanted to be able to be to say what was on my mind so that I could stand up for myself in situations. So many times I have been struck down by someone's words, only to be frozen into submission or just slither away to find myself angered shortly after.
Don't get me wrong, after the negative interaction I thrash my arms around, raise my voice and dish out how I feel, like a card dealer in a casino. Unfortunately, this does me little good when I am the only one insight.
My envy of these people grew and grew in my life, so much so that I have attracted many Zoro types in my life. Some were boulders to deal with and others have been a true gift. Even with all this envy, I grew to despise some of these swash buckling tyrants for their harsh words and coarse delivery. I tried to enlist others in my dislike for them, but soon found that through these people I would come to honor myself.
These tyrants were a springboard into getting closer to who I want to be.
They were just the hurdle I needed to start speaking up for myself.
I warn you, I'm still slow to draw my sword at times, and I have to pound out my feelings occasionally before they truly emerge. But the clincher is, I am a lot better at times, and you can hear the swishing of my sword when I am on-point. The best part is, my calm caring demeanor allows for the words to usually come out in a kind, direct way.
It is a similar story of wanting to be like somebody else and wrestling with who I am. A lot of my life I detested who I was. I couldn't see or feel much value. I shunned my personality and most of my traits. Now I find through each of these situations, I get to learn to appreciate myself, as I am.
I know for sure that more I appreciate my authentic self, then I have the choice to incorporate all the qualities I like in others, just with my own flair! We can "stand up for ourselves" by remaining true to our inner voice. Speaking our truth is our great protector!
I definitely am not the most salty person out there, but now I find my sprinkling of salt just perfect. It could definitely come out a bit more eloquently or a tad sooner sometimes, but we are all a work in progress, right?
Now on to this lovely recipe for fermented sourdough pretzels! I have been quite enamored with my sourdough starter (that I feed weekly) and am pleasantly surprised by the deliciousness of fermenting flour and water.
Here is another sourdough recipe for your recipe book.
If only I could be that swash buckling Zoro type! I would slay my enemies down to size with my words - but in the moment I freeze. This ties into my recipe of salty delicious homemade pretzels which I'll talk more about later.
The salty side is so attractive. I have been amazed by others saying their thoughts without an ounce of regret and confidence to die for. (At least that is how it seems on the outside.) I used to cast such envy on these "slayers of words." I wanted to be able to be to say what was on my mind so that I could stand up for myself in situations. So many times I have been struck down by someone's words, only to be frozen into submission or just slither away to find myself angered shortly after.
Don't get me wrong, after the negative interaction I thrash my arms around, raise my voice and dish out how I feel, like a card dealer in a casino. Unfortunately, this does me little good when I am the only one insight.
My envy of these people grew and grew in my life, so much so that I have attracted many Zoro types in my life. Some were boulders to deal with and others have been a true gift. Even with all this envy, I grew to despise some of these swash buckling tyrants for their harsh words and coarse delivery. I tried to enlist others in my dislike for them, but soon found that through these people I would come to honor myself.
These tyrants were a springboard into getting closer to who I want to be.
They were just the hurdle I needed to start speaking up for myself.
I warn you, I'm still slow to draw my sword at times, and I have to pound out my feelings occasionally before they truly emerge. But the clincher is, I am a lot better at times, and you can hear the swishing of my sword when I am on-point. The best part is, my calm caring demeanor allows for the words to usually come out in a kind, direct way.
It is a similar story of wanting to be like somebody else and wrestling with who I am. A lot of my life I detested who I was. I couldn't see or feel much value. I shunned my personality and most of my traits. Now I find through each of these situations, I get to learn to appreciate myself, as I am.
I know for sure that more I appreciate my authentic self, then I have the choice to incorporate all the qualities I like in others, just with my own flair! We can "stand up for ourselves" by remaining true to our inner voice. Speaking our truth is our great protector!
I definitely am not the most salty person out there, but now I find my sprinkling of salt just perfect. It could definitely come out a bit more eloquently or a tad sooner sometimes, but we are all a work in progress, right?
Now on to this lovely recipe for fermented sourdough pretzels! I have been quite enamored with my sourdough starter (that I feed weekly) and am pleasantly surprised by the deliciousness of fermenting flour and water.
Here is another sourdough recipe for your recipe book.
SourDough Pretzels
I found this recipe on littehomesteaders.com and it is absolutely amazing! I haven't tweaked the recipe much except for adding different toppings when it's time to cook them. These are so delicious right out of the oven and just as great the next day or for the rest of the week.
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons of butter
2 Tablespoons sugar (divided)
1 Cup of hot water
1 1/2 Cups starter
2 teaspoons sea salt
3 Cups Organic all-purpose flour
1 Cup of pastry flour
1/4 Cup baking soda
1 egg
Toppings: Sea salt, truffle salt, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, cinnamon and sugar or whatever your heart desires
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, mix butter and 1 tablespoon of sugar in the hot water.
2. Add starter to water mixture. Add flour and mix well. (I like to add a cup of flour at a time and mix it until all the flour has been added.)
3. The dough will be pretty stiff. Take the dough out of the bowl and put it on a floured surface and begin to knead. Knead for a couple minutes until the dough is smooth and stiff.
4. Oil a large bowl and place dough in it. Allow dough to rise for at least two hours.
5. Once dough has risen punch down and place on a floured surface. Knead a few times.
6. Roll dough into a log and cut into about 16 pieces for large pretzels or 32 pieces for mini pretzels. (I went for the large pretzels.)
7. Roll each piece into a long strip and form into a pretzel shape. (This took me a little bit to get a good pretzel shape down so my first few looked like blobs.)
8. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and the baking soda. Stir carefully.
9. Add a few pretzels in the water and poach for about a minute. Remove from water and allow to drain on cooling rack. (I had trouble with mine falling through the cooling rack so I just placed them on the greased baking sheet.)
10. Preheat oven to 450˚. Place pretzels on a greased baking sheet. Beat one egg and brush each pretzel with the egg. Sprinkle pretzels with salt or other things mentions above. (I enjoyed using a variety of flavors on the pretzels since it makes a large amount of them. We tried truffle salt, parmesan cheese and garlic powder which were all great.) Bake for 15 minutes or till golden brown.
Enjoy these hot homemade pretzels! Let the saltiness satisfy you and be enamored with your degree of saltiness. It may be a little or a lot but it is just perfect for you. Too many times we wish we were different or like somebody else. Know that your spice can be a teacher. If you desire to be saltier, know that as you grow to speak up more for yourself that you can do so in a powerful but gentle way. The extra salty are just teaching you stand up for yourself. If you are a swash buckling tyrant you have a gift that others value, the ability to say what you need. You may learn something from the less salty in giving way for a little gentler touch when presenting you opinion.
The best part is we are all learning and life is just a taste test. Maybe somebodies pretzel looks so tantalizing but it doesn't have the same spice, tang or sweetness as yours. That's when you bite in and know yours is just perfect for you.
I would love to hear from you about how my little story touched you or how the recipe was! It is a honor that you stopped by!
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons of butter
2 Tablespoons sugar (divided)
1 Cup of hot water
1 1/2 Cups starter
2 teaspoons sea salt
3 Cups Organic all-purpose flour
1 Cup of pastry flour
1/4 Cup baking soda
1 egg
Toppings: Sea salt, truffle salt, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, cinnamon and sugar or whatever your heart desires
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, mix butter and 1 tablespoon of sugar in the hot water.
2. Add starter to water mixture. Add flour and mix well. (I like to add a cup of flour at a time and mix it until all the flour has been added.)
3. The dough will be pretty stiff. Take the dough out of the bowl and put it on a floured surface and begin to knead. Knead for a couple minutes until the dough is smooth and stiff.
4. Oil a large bowl and place dough in it. Allow dough to rise for at least two hours.
5. Once dough has risen punch down and place on a floured surface. Knead a few times.
6. Roll dough into a log and cut into about 16 pieces for large pretzels or 32 pieces for mini pretzels. (I went for the large pretzels.)
7. Roll each piece into a long strip and form into a pretzel shape. (This took me a little bit to get a good pretzel shape down so my first few looked like blobs.)
8. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and the baking soda. Stir carefully.
9. Add a few pretzels in the water and poach for about a minute. Remove from water and allow to drain on cooling rack. (I had trouble with mine falling through the cooling rack so I just placed them on the greased baking sheet.)
10. Preheat oven to 450˚. Place pretzels on a greased baking sheet. Beat one egg and brush each pretzel with the egg. Sprinkle pretzels with salt or other things mentions above. (I enjoyed using a variety of flavors on the pretzels since it makes a large amount of them. We tried truffle salt, parmesan cheese and garlic powder which were all great.) Bake for 15 minutes or till golden brown.
Enjoy these hot homemade pretzels! Let the saltiness satisfy you and be enamored with your degree of saltiness. It may be a little or a lot but it is just perfect for you. Too many times we wish we were different or like somebody else. Know that your spice can be a teacher. If you desire to be saltier, know that as you grow to speak up more for yourself that you can do so in a powerful but gentle way. The extra salty are just teaching you stand up for yourself. If you are a swash buckling tyrant you have a gift that others value, the ability to say what you need. You may learn something from the less salty in giving way for a little gentler touch when presenting you opinion.
The best part is we are all learning and life is just a taste test. Maybe somebodies pretzel looks so tantalizing but it doesn't have the same spice, tang or sweetness as yours. That's when you bite in and know yours is just perfect for you.
I would love to hear from you about how my little story touched you or how the recipe was! It is a honor that you stopped by!
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