Tailgate Pretzel Bites - October 2016

Ingredients-

• Pizza dough - one large pizza ball is enough for about 50 pieces, I used 2, one for Cheddar Jalapeños and split one for bacon and cinnamon sugar
• 8 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped
• 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar
• 1/4 cup of jalapeños, chopped
• 1 egg - for egg wash
• 1/3 cup of baking soda
• Grainy mustard of your choice

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Mix sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
• Chop jalapeños and set aside.
• Cook bacon, chop and set aside.
• If you’re splitting the dough go ahead and do that, and place dough on floured countertop and knead in flour until it is no longer tacky, just a minute or two.
• Form dough into a ball and split into about 25 pieces, individually roll them into thin logs and tie into a knot and set aside.
• For the next batch, place dough on floured surface, mix in bacon and knead in flour until it is no longer tacky and repeat step 6.
• For the final batch, place dough on floured surface, mix in cheddar, jalapeños and flour until no longer tacky and repeat step 6.
• Boil 5 cups of water and 1/3 baking soda in a medium pot and 5 cups of just plain water in another.
• Once water is boiling, cook batches separately for about 1 minute or until slightly puffed - they will rise to the surface.
• Remove bites onto paper towels; transfer to parchment lined baking sheet spaced 1/2 inch apart. Brush jalapeno cheddar and bacon bites with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake for 12 minutes and serve warm with grainy mustard.
• Brush the cinnamon sugar bites with melted butter, roll in sugar mix and bake for 12 minutes. Serve warm.