SOFT PRETZELS

1 1/4 cup warm water

1 tablespoon yeast

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour
Mix warm water and yeast.  Add brown sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Work until just moist.  Let rise 1/2 hour.  Punch down.  Roll into shape.  Dip pretzels in mixture of 2 Tablespoons baking soda, and 1 cup very hot water.  Sprinkle with pretzel salt.  Bake 400 degrees for 10 min.  Dip in melted butter. (TIP: Line cookie sheet with tinfoil.  Grease tinfoil.  Very little cleanup.)

For thinking ahead:
Mix dough as if baking except put dough into gallon bag.  Put in freezer.  This is only for short-term freezing.

Variation
Instead of salt sprinkle with white sugar and Cinnamon.
Or pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese.