Recipe: Pretzel Buns

As soon as the latest issue of LandLust Magazine hits the shelves in Germany, my dad sends me a copy here to the US. I love this magazine - reading it and looking at the pictures is like a mini escape to Germany. 

So, when this latest issue had recipes for pretzels and pretzel buns, I knew I had to try making them immediately. As long as I can remember, I have loved pretzels. Growing up in Germany, they were a regular part of my life. And while we can find them here now once in a while, they aren't quite the same.

 So, by popular request on Facebook, I translated the recipe and adapted it to American ingredients.


Pretzel Buns
(makes about 16 buns)

Ingredients: 

500g All-Purpose Flour
2 1/4 teaspoon dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
40g softened butter

For the brine:
50g baking soda

Possible toppings:
coarse salt,
seeds (sesame, poppy, pumpkin, sunflower),
or a little grated cheese

1. Dissolve yeast and sugar in 320ml lukewarm water.
2. Using the dough hook on the mixer, work the flour, salt and softened butter into the yeast water. Knead the soft dough for at least five minutes (I had to add a little more flour to keep the dough from sticking).
3. Form the dough into a ball, put into a large bowl, cover and allow to rise for either 2 hours at room temperature or over night in the refrigerator. (I allowed it to rise over night and made the buns for breakfast.)
4. After the dough has risen, divide it into 16 equal parts, form each one of them into a small ball, cover and allow to rest for 15 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 465 degrees F (240 C).
5. Meanwhile bring 1.5 liters of water to a simmer. Add the baking soda carefully as it will foam quite a bit initially.
6. Add three or four of the dough buns at a time to the simmering water for about 45 seconds, turning them once.
7. Remove from the water, allow excess water to drip off and put on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (I used a Silpat baking mat, which worked great.) With a sharp knife, cut a cross into the top of each bun and sprinkle with your topping of choice. Allow to rest for 15 minutes.
8. Bake for 15 minutes or until nicely browned and your kitchen smells like a German bakery.
9. Try not to devour all of them. By yourself. In one sitting.

Enjoy!! Easy and delicious! And if you make the dough the night before, you can have fresh buns for breakfast. Also, they freeze really well.

A note: This recipe is easiest if you have an electronic kitchen scale that also measures in grams. For the liquids, 1 ml is equal to 1 gram, so you can weigh them on the scale as well.

Tomorrow, I'll have a bunch of art for you! In the meantime, have a beautiful Thursday!

❧ Silke

Something New

For a very long time I have wanted to participate in Ginny's Wednesday Yarn Along where everyone shares what they are knitting and reading at the time.

For some reason I've been putting it off. My blog used to be about everything creative I was doing, which included knitting, sewing, crocheting, cooking or baking. Or travel. Or what I was reading. Or whatever else delighted me.

Lately it has become pretty much only about my art and while there is nothing wrong with that, I miss documenting all the other parts of my creative life. So, here's some knitting for you. I have had this beautiful sock yarn in my stash for a few years and it just begged to be turned into socks. The Pattern is the Misti Alpaca Sock Family, which is a basic sock and quite simple to follow.

The yarn is so soft and a joy to knit with. And those colors! They remind me of the colors I use in a lot of my paintings. This is going to be a pair for Daniel for when it finally cools down. Right now, it still feels like a hot and humid summer, but I have high hopes for some fall temperatures in October.

And what am I reading? I'm on the fifth of the Harry Hole series, an excellent Norwegian crime series. Because we first discovered them on a trip to Germany, we are reading the entire series in German. I find that during the long and hot southern summers, I read a lot of books that take place in Scandinavia, the British Isles or Iceland. It allows me to cool down ... at least in my mind.

Tomorrow, I'll be back with a recipe for pretzel buns (Laugenbrötchen) and on Friday I'll have some art to show you!

Have a beautiful Wednesday and I hope you'll enjoy whatever it is you have planned.

❧ Silke

Charcoal Love

Dear friends, I know I've been quiet as of late. I've been busy enjoying the rest of the summer with Daniel before he starts teaching again. And...I've discovered a new love: charcoal!

Those of you who have followed this blog for awhile know that I've always had a fascination with portraits and it seems I'm getting back to that (while still doing my colorful animal paintings).

I've had such a yearning for working with charcoal in a style that's been in my head and is finally finding expression.

Here are four larger charcoal drawings I did in their various stages of development. Enjoy!

Even though this isn't painting in the strict sense of the word, I am still linking to Paint Party Friday, a wonderful place to gather creative inspiration of any kind!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

❧ Silke

Turning 50

So, tomorrow I turn 50. The reason I'm telling you is because so much has happened between 40 and 50 that I never thought possible.

Right before I turned 40, we moved from Albuquerque to Savannah and everything was in flux. I had left a career in Albuquerque and had no idea what I was to do with myself. I just knew that my happiness was not to be found in this particular career or in any "normal" job.

At that time I wasn't very good at just being. And I was even worse at being in that undefined space of not knowing what was next for me in terms what I'd be doing.

I now know that that is one of the best spaces to be in. We all like to get from point A to point B and arrive at Point B quickly, but the real magic happens in the in between stage, in that open space between "what was" and "what will be." That's when everything can change for the better, when we can become something more, something new.

It was in this space where I started painting. I was 43 and had never before wanted to paint because I knew that I didn't have the talent. It was not even on my radar until...I had this undefined (uncomfortable) space in my life.

Here's what I learned from that new beginning. In life it's often not about living our obvious talents and doing what we've always done. The biggest joy is sometimes found on a path we didn't even know existed. Developing a talent that was completely hidden. Allowing something new and unknown into our lives.

Now at 50 (well, tomorrow) my life is only about the joy of it, however that comes to me. Be it through art, family, knitting, nature, our pets, cooking, eating, what have you. It's about the joy of it, pure and simple! And I wish the same for you!

All of these little paintings can be found in my Daily Paintworks gallery.
And of course I'm liking to Paint Party Friday, where I am always inspired!

With love and light,

❧ Silke

Before I left...

...on our trip to visit family and friends in Germany for the month of July, I completed a few small paintings I haven't shown you yet. They were gifts for my family and close friends.

As I go through all the photos we took while over in Europe, I'm sure I'll share a few on my blog.

It was wonderful to travel for a while and to see our family and friends.

It was good to unplug (mostly) and to just enjoy life in a different country, dive back into all the things from my childhood, eat amazing food, and see incredible sights!

Aside from knitting a pair of socks for Daniel (photo to follow when they all done), I didn't do anything creative.

I find that a real break is quite beneficial from time to time.

I was lucky that I grew up in a family that took real vacations in a time before cell phones and computers.

We'd often be gone for a month at a time, totally immersed in a different place and culture without being connected to our "normal" world.

Total renewal! And that's how I feel about this trip.

Now I am back home with energy to spare and already enjoying my studio and paints.

I'll show you my new art soon!

Linking to the ever inspiring Paint Party Friday!

In the meantime, I hope you had a great July and a beautiful week!!

❧ Silke