Hannah's Hot Pretzels

Ok, a few of you asked for the recipe. Here it is! Enjoy!

1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 Tblsp)
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
3 1/4 cups unbleached bread flour
1/4 cup hot water
1 teaspoon sugar
Coarse or kosher salt (optional)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Pour lukewarm water into large mixing bowl and sprinkle in the yeast. Wait 5 min. then stir in the brown sugar, salt, and 2 cups of the flour. Stir vigorously for about 100 strokes.

Gradually stir in the remaining flour to make a semifirm dough. Knead on a floured surface for 7-8 minutes.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and roll it around to coat the entire surface. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it in a warm place for 45 minutes or until the dough has doubled in volume.
Lightly grease a heavy, shiny (not dark) baking sheet.

When dough is ready, knead for 1 more minute on floured surface. let dough rest for another 5 minutes. Divide dough into 6 equal size balls. Roll each ball under your palms and fingers until it's about 3 feet long and 1/2 inch thick.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Shape the ropes of dough into a pretzel shape. Leave space between them on the baking sheet as they rise. Before baking, Stir the hot water and sugar together in a small bowl. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the water mixture over the pretzels and top them with coarse salt. Set the pretzels aside for 10 minutes.

Bake pretzels for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. When taking the pretzels, out on a baking rack, lightly brush them with melted butter.
They taste best when nice an warm.