Which of the following categories best describes this recipe:
Breads

Estimated time:
Up to 2 hours total (one hour is for dough to rise)

More than 2 hours w/bread machine...but ease of prep. makes up for that!

Number of servings:
about 12

Ingredients: (Hit your return key to start a new line)
1 pkg. dry yeast (or equivalent amount from jar)

1 1/2 c. warm water

1 Tbsp. sugar

4 c. flour

2 Tbsp. melted butter (optional)

Coarse Salt

Directions:
Lightly grease cookie sheet.

Dissolve yeast in warm water; add the sugar.

Blend in flour, and turn dough onto a lightly floured board. Knead until smooth.

Allow dough to rise for an hour or so, until Doubled in volume.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Punch down the dough.

Twist off approx. 12 equal pieces of dough. (If you are working with 13 kids, you may not wish to double recipe ;-)

Roll each piece of dough into a "rope" about 18 inches long, and about the thickness of a fat pencil. Carry each rope over to the cookie sheet. Twist each into a pretzel shape, and arrange them on the cookie sheet.

Lightly spritz some water on the pretzels (or use a brush) and sprinkle with coarse salt.
(Omitting salt is of course an option.)

Bake approximately 12-15 minutes, until Golden Perfection! Watch closely those last few minutes. Melted butter may be brushed on the pretzels in those last minutes, or just prior to serving.

Serve warm, with choice of the following: honey (pasteurized, please), mustard, softened cream cheese.

Other suggestions and comments:
This is the most basic and Kid-friendly recipe for soft pretzels I have experienced.
Hot, Soft and Fresh seems to be way Good 'Nuff!

Use of a stand mixer w/dough hook, or a bread machine Dough cycle. Check owner's manual for recommended order for addition of wet/dry ingredients, capacity of the bowl/pan, and for the bread machine, the length of the Cycle.

My bread machine cranks out the dough in an hour and a half. Waiting is painless, though, because in that interval, many other things can be accomplished, and the dough is Perfect! Between pretzels and pizza dough, a bread machine can pay for itself sooner than one would think.

In the unlikely event you find yourself with Leftovers, they can be Bagged and stored in a cool, dry place. Mine reheated nicely in the toaster oven, at 400 degrees, for about 4-5 minutes, 2 days after they were made. Great with a cup o' tea or other hot beverage!