Soft Pretzels

3 3/4 to 4 1/4 cups bread flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

1 1/2 cups very warm water (120 to 130 degrees)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup water

2 teaspoons baking soda

Coarse salt

In a large bowl, mix 2 cups of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast. Add 1 1/2 cups warm water and the oil. Beat with electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute and on medium speed for 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough. Continue kneading dough in mixer for five minutes.

Heat oven to 425. Grease cookie sheets. In a shallow bowl, stir remaining water and baking soda to make a pretzel wash. Divide dough into 16 pieces. Roll each piece into a 24-inch rope. (dipping hands in pretzel wash will help make rolling dough easier) Form into pretzel shape. Dip pretzel into pretzel wash, place on cookie sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap when all dough is formed into pretzels. For thin pretzels, let rest about 5 minutes, for thicker pretzels, let rise in a warm place 15 to 20 minutes.

Just before baking, brush with remaining pretzel wash and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheets and cool 15 minutes.

Chicken Quesadillas

2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
6 flour tortillas (8-10 inch)
1 cup chopped cooked chicken.
1 small tomato, seeded and chopped (1/2 cup)
4 medium green onions, chopped (1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons canned chopped green chilies
Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired

Heat oven to 350. Sprinkle 1/3 cup of ceese evenly over half f each tortilla. Sprinkle remaining ingredients over cheese. Fold tortillas in half over filling. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake about 5 minutes or just until cheese is melted. Serve quesadillas whole, or cut each into 3 wedges, beginning cuts from center of folded sides.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 large egg
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 375.

Combine buttr, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into butter mixture until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Drop by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto greased baking sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on pans for 2 minutes before moving to cooling rack.