Yummy Snacks!

Here are some of my favorite yummy snacks!!!

Triscuits (or any other salty cracker - watch out for sweet crackers like Wheat Thins and Ritz...doesn't quite taste right), cream cheese and sliced manzanilla olives.  This makes a GREAT appetizer - but make lots they go fast!

The second yummy snack is soft homemade oat pretzels. 

The recipe is as follows:

3 3 1/2 cups wheat flour (you can use all purpose too)

1 1/2 cups Quaker Oats (can use either old fashioned or quick)

2 tbsp sugar

1 pkg rapid rising yeast (about 2 1/4 tsp)

1 1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup water

2 tbsp margarine

1 egg lightly beaten

1.  Combine 2 cups of flour, 1 1/4 cups oat, sugar, yeast and salt in large mixing bowl, mix well. 

2.  Heat milk and water in small saucepan to 120degrees F to 130degrees F (this goes quickly especially if you have a gas stove).  Add margarine to water/milk stir until melted.  Add to flour mixture.

3.  Blend with electric mixer on low speed until moist, then beat on med speed for 3min.  By hand stir in flour until dough pulls away from sides of bowl.

4.  Turn it out onto a floured surface.  Knead 5-8min until smooth and elastic, adding additional flour if sticky.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap on floured surface and let rest for 10min.

5.  Heat oven to 350degrees F.  Cover two cookie sheets with parchment paper (make sure it doesn't go over edges or might catch on fire) or you can lightly spray with cooking spray. 

6.  Divide dough into 24 equal parts.  Roll each part into a 12" long rope and shape into pretzel.  Place on baking sheet and let rest for 10min or until slightly risen.

7.  Brush tops with slightly beaten egg and sprinkle 1/4 cup oats on top.

8.  Bake 15 - 18min or until golden brown. (if baking two sheets at once rotate from top to bottom once during baking)  Remove baking sheets from oven and remove pretzels to wire baking rack (this is where the parchment paper comes in handy - not to mention the help in clean up. 

9.  Store in tightly covered at room temperature.

These are VERY yummy.  I think next time I will try putting cinnamon in them or maybe onions & garlic.  I also think these will be yummy with jelly/jam or honey mustard salad dressing etc.