308 Pretzels

Pretzels are a part of my childhood

Pretzels? Yes, of all things, pretzels.

A few days ago Bill was discussing a job he was on in which someone brought in a big box of fresh, hot soft pretzels from a bakery. He loved them!

That sparked a memory from childhood…

There is so much stored in my brain that triggered by a conversation or a word and ‘soft pretzels’ opened the floodgates.

My parents’ Sunday School Class used to make pretzels for a fundraiser.

They would all gather in the huge kitchen (huge to a child) in the basement of the church on a Saturday morning with children in tow to make the delectable pretzels.

As I think about the memories, I can taste and smell the pretzels…

Oh my goodness, we kids had so much fun first watching our parents make the dough, shape it, dip the pretzels, and bake them.

One batch after another.

Mounds and mounds of pretzels.

Orders were placed in paper bags to be picked up or delivered.

Rising time was time for laughter and conversation.

Their comradery was so easy.

Jokes abounded.

Of course, some of us weren’t happy coloring in the basement… so we explored the church

I investigated every inch of the church throughout the years! From the Sunday school rooms upstairs, the nursery, balcony, and the choir room under the choir loft, to the bell tower rope that was too high to reach as a child (or believe me, that bell would have been ringing on a Saturday…).

What amazing memories…

As we got older we were able to actually help.

Then we got to deliver them when we were even older.

Many of the parents are no longer with us. My parents Marilyn and Harry Long, Joan Quinn, Sherry and Ron McAdow, Don Stineman, Arnie Beck, and Jim Ward to name a few.

When I was thinking of the pretzel escapades I called my sister Linda to see if she had the recipe she asked, “Did you try Aunt Margaret?”

I called “Aunt” Margaret Beck and of course she had the recipe and read it to me over the phone!

I should’ve known she had it. Aunt Margaret is the recipe queen. I really need to pick her brain more… a true treasure ❤️

Before the phone calls I put a plea out on a Bucyrus, OH group on Facebook and the replies were overwhelming.

Many remembered the wonderful pretzels from the church.

Also received text messages and calls from childhood friends reminiscing about baking with our parents in the church basement.

It’s truly been two days of marvelous memories of childhood past…

Then the icing on the pretzel – one of my parent’s friends shared the provenance of the recipe! Dixie Lee Stineman wrote, “Don & I brought that recipe from our former Concord Methodist Episcopal Church in Brokensword, OH. Our Sunday School teachers Hilda & Floy Lahman made them with us as a fund raiser. And then our Sunday School class at Bucyrus First United Methodist needed funds and the rest is history!”

I am grateful for conversations that bring back memories of childhood.

I am thankful for friends who validate my memories.

I am blessed that I can write down the memories in case I someday lose my mind…

I will share the old school recipe below. If you decide to make it, please don’t skip a step or substitute baking soda for lye – it just wouldn’t turn out right.

XO Lisa ❤️