Neujahrspretzel (New Year's Pretzels)

 ---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.01
  
       Title: Neujahrspretzel (New Year's Pretzels)
  Categories: German
       Yield: 2 servings
  
       2 c  Milk                                2 ea Eggs; Large
     1/2 c  Butter Or Margarine                 1 c  Confectioners' Sugar
       2 pk Yeast; Active, Dry                  1 x  ;Water
       2 ts Salt                                1 ts Vanilla Extract
     1/2 c  Sugar                             1/4 c  Almonds; Chopped
       7 c  Flour; Unbleached              
  
   Heat milk and butter until very warm (120-130 degrees F.).  Mix yeast,
   salt, sugar, and 1 cup flour.  Slowly beat into warm milk.  Beat for 2
   minutes.  Add eggs and 1 cup of flour.  Beat for an additional 2 minutes.
   Add enough flour to form a soft dough.  Knead until smooth and elastic,
   about 5 minutes.  Place dough in a greased bowl.  Let rise in a warm place
   until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.  Punch dough down and let rise again
   until doubled. (1 hour more).  Divide dough in half.  Shape pretzel as
   follows:  Roll dough into a rope about 30 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in
   diameter.  Cross the ends leaving a large loop in the center.  Flip loop
   back onto crossed ends to form a pretzel.  Repeat with remaining dough.
   Place pretzels on greased baking sheets.  Let rise 15 minutes more.  Bake
   at 375 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on wire
   racks.  Mix confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla to form a thin icing.
   Spread icing on pretzels and sprinkle with chopped almonds.
   Makes 2 large pretzels.
  
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