New Year's Pretzels

• Ready In: 2 hrs 54 mins
• Serves: 2
• Yields: 2 large pretzels

Ingredients

• 2  cups milk
• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine
• 2  packets  yeast, active, dry
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 7  cups flour, unbleached
• 2  large eggs
• 1  cup confectioners' sugar
•  water
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 cup  almonds, chopped

Directions

1. Heat milk and butter until very warm (120-130 degrees F.).
2. Mix yeast, salt, sugar, and 1 cup flour.
3. Slowly beat into warm milk.
4. Beat for 2 minutes.
5. Add eggs and 1 cup of flour.
6. Beat for an additional 2 minutes.
7. Add enough flour to form a soft dough.
8. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
9. Place dough in a greased bowl.
10. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
11. Punch dough down and let rise again until doubled. (1 hour more).
12. Divide dough in half.
13. Shape pretzel as follows: Roll dough into a rope about 30 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
14. Cross the ends leaving a large loop in the center.
15. Flip loop back onto crossed ends to form a pretzel.
16. Repeat with remaining dough.
17. Place pretzels on greased baking sheets.
18. Let rise 15 minutes more.
19. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
20. Cool on wire racks.
21. Mix confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla to form a thin icing.
22. Spread icing on pretzels and sprinkle with chopped almonds.