Oven baked Pretzles

Ingredients:

• Warm water
• 2 (1/4-ounce) packages rapid-rise yeast
• 3/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 6 1/2 cups unbleached bread flour
• 4 tablespoons coarse salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces, plus more for serving
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup pale ale-style beer
• Pretzel salt
• Mustard, for serving

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together 2 cups warm water, yeast, and 1/2 cup brown sugar; let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix together flour and coarse salt using your hands. Add butter and continue to mix with your hands until mixture is crumbly. Add yeast mixture and, using your hands, mix until a shaggy dough is formed and water is absorbed.
3. Using the dough hook attachment, mix dough on medium speed until dough is tight, elastic, and smooth, 6 to 8 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and transfer to refrigerator; let chill at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
5. Roll dough out into a 14-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut dough into one dozen 12-inch-long strips, each about 1-inch wide. Transfer to a large baking sheet and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Transfer to refrigerator and let chill for 15 minutes.
6. Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll out each piece into a 30- to 33-inch-long rope (about 3/4-inch thick), starting from the center and working toward the ends. Make a "U" shape with the rope and cross the ends over, pinching at the bottom of the "U" to form a pretzel. Return to baking sheet and repeat process with remaining dough.
7. Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. In a large saucepan, combine 8 cups water, baking soda, beer, and remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Simmer pretzels, one at a time, until pretzel floats, about 30 seconds; transfer to prepared baking sheet using a perforated spatula. Repeat process with remaining pretzels.
8. Sprinkle pretzels with pretzel salt; transfer to oven and bake for 5 minutes. Rotate baking sheet and continue baking until pretzels turn a chestnut brown color, 4 to 6 minutes more. Remove from baking sheet and transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.
   
9. Serve warm with butter or mustard.

Pizza Dough

Ingredients

• 5 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 2 envelopes (1/4 ounce each) rapid-rise yeast
• 4 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing

Directions

1. Make the dough: In a food processor, pulse together flour, cornmeal, yeast, and salt. With processor running, add oil and then 2 cups cold water in a steady steam; process until dough just forms a ball.
2. Turn out dough onto a floured work surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, 3 to 4 minutes. Place in a resealable plastic bag; let rise until doubled in bulk, 2 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator (let come to room temperature before proceeding, about 40 minutes).
3. Divide dough into four equal portions; roll into balls, and cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap until puffed, about 20 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 500° . Place each dough ball on a baking sheet; using your hands, gently flatten, and pull into 8-by-10-inch ovals. Top as desired.
5. Bake until crust is golden brown and toppings are hot, rotating sheets halfway through, 10 to 12 minutes.

Baked Potato Chips

Ingredients

* 4 russet (baking) potatoes, peeled and sliced diagonally 1/8 inch thick
* 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) of butter, melted
* Coarse salt to taste

Method

Pat the potatoes dry between paper towels and arrange them in one layer in 2 buttered cookie sheets pans. Brush the potatoes with the butter, bake them in a preheated 500°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Sprinkle them with the salt.

Serves 4.