#bread community

It’s a pretzel stick. I didn’t twist bc I got scared. But it’s a recipe from @isadorasourdough on Tik Tok.

Ingredients:

For the dough: ▢ 1 cup (240 g) warm milk (or water) ▢ 2 tbsp (30 g) unsalted butter, melted ▢ 1 tbsp (15 g) sugar ▢ 1 tsp salt ▢ 1 cup (200 g) sourdough discard (unfed, room temperature ▢ 2¾-3 cups (330-360 g) all-purpose flour ▢ 2 tsp instant yeast

For boiling: ▢ 6 cups water ▢ 2 tbsp baking soda

For topping: ▢ 2 tbsp melted butter ▢ Coarse salt (or sesame, everything seasoning, etc.)

Instructions

1.] Make the dough: In a large bowl, mix warm milk, sugar, butter, salt, and sourdough discard. Add yeast and stir. Add flour gradually until a soft dough forms. Knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. (It should be slightly tacky but not sticky.) 2.] First rise: Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl & cover Let it rise for 1-1.5hrs or until doubled. 3.] Shape the pretzels** Divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll each into a rope (about 50-60 cm long). Make a "U", twist the ends twice, then fold them down to the bottom. 4.] Boil: Bring water and baking soda to a simmer. Boil each pretzel for 30 seconds per side, then Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. 5.] Bake: Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake at 425ºF (220°C) for 12-15 minutes, until deep golden brown. 6.] Finish: Brush again with butter right after baking for soft, rich pretzels.

Monasticism also called monachism or monkhood, is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual activities. Monastic life plays an important role in many Christian churches, especially in the Catholic, Orthodox & Anglican traditions as well as in other faiths such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism. In other religions, monasticism is generally criticized and not practiced, as in Islam and Zoroastrianism; or plays a marginal role, as in modern Judaism.

The Christian monastic movement, often considered to have its origins in the "Desert Fathers" of the late 3rd and early 4th centuries, is generally said to have started in Egypt, with c. 270–300 AD frequently cited as the beginning of the eremitic (hermit) tradition.

Key early dates for the monastic movement include:

c. 270–271 AD: Saint Anthony of Egypt (often called the Father of Monasticism) began his life as a hermit.

c. 318–320 AD: Saint Pachomius organized the first communal (cenobitic) monastery at Tabennisi, Egypt.

3rd Century (Syriac): Proto-monasticism appeared earlier in the 3rd century among Syriac Christians through the "Sons of the Covenant" movement. 

The movement spread quickly, with 4th-century examples including Saint Basil the Great shaping communal rules in the East, while John Cassian helped bring monasticism to Western Europe in the late 4th century. 

Other Religious Traditions

Jainism/Buddhism: Organized monastic life began much earlier in India, with both traditions starting around the 6th century BC.