Soft Pretzels - Like Auntie Anne'S - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 (1/4 ounce) package dry active yeast
1 cup water
1 tablespoon Crisco
6 cups water
1/4 cup baking soda
2 tablespoons melted butter

Preparation

Combine 1 cup flour, sugar, salt and yeast in medium bowl. Blend well.
Heat 1 cup water and Crisco in small saucepan to 100 - 110 degrees.
Add liquid to flour mixture and blend at low speed until moistened.
Beat 3 minutes at medium speed.
Stir in by hand an additional 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 cups of flour or until dough pulls cleanly away from sides of bowl.
Knead in 1/2 - 3/4 cup flour, on a floured surface, until dough is smooth and elastic.
Put dough in greased bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap and a cloth towel.
Let rise in a warm (80-85 degrees) until light and doubled in size. About 45 minutes.
Spray 2 cookie sheets with no-stick spray.
Punch dough down and seperate into 12 pieces.
Roll each piece into a 16-inch rope.
Form into pretzel shape.
Place on greased cookie sheets and cover.
Let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.
Adjust oven rack to top position.
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine 6 cups water and baking soda in a shallow saucepan and bring to a boil.
Slowly drop pretzels into water, one at a time, cooking 15 seconds on each side.
Remove from water with a slotted spoon and return to greased cookie sheet.
Sprinkle with pretzel salt, sesame seeds, etc.
Bake for 8 minutes.
Brush with melted butter.
Bake an additional 2 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from cookie sheet and brush generously with remaining butter.