New Year's Pretzels

 Categories: German, Desserts
      Yield: 2 servings
 
      2 c  Milk
      2 pk Yeast; active, dry
    1/2 c  Sugar
      2 ea Eggs; large
      1 x  ;water
    1/4 c  Almonds; chopped
    1/2 c  Butter or margarine
      2 t  Salt
      7 c  Flour; unbleached
      1 c  Confectioners' sugar
      1 t  Vanilla extract
 
  Heat milk and butter until very warm (120-130 degrees F.).  Mix yeast,
  salt, sugar, and 1 cup flour.  Slowly beat into warm milk.  Beat for 2
  minutes.  Add eggs and 1 cup of flour.  Beat for an additional 2
  minutes. Add enough flour to form a soft dough.  Knead until smooth
  and elastic, about 5 minutes.  Place dough in a greased bowl.  Let
  rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.  Punch
  dough down and let rise again until doubled. (1 hour more).  Divide
  dough in half. Shape pretzel as follows:  Roll dough into a rope
  about 30 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter.  Cross the ends
  leaving a large loop in the center. Flip loop back onto crossed ends
  to form a pretzel. Repeat with remaining dough. Place pretzels on
  greased baking sheets. Let rise 15 minutes more. Bake at 375 degrees
  F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks.
  Mix confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla to form a thin icing.
  Spread icing on pretzels and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Makes 2
  large pretzels.