April 26th - Shuffleboard Day & National Pretzel Day

(To make up for my short post yesterday, I am sharing with you a wealth of great information today.)

Shuffleboard is a popular game that dates back over 500 years. The two most common varieties of shuffleboard are the deck version and the table top version. Both are fun games which can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The object of game is to push disks along a smooth surface into a scoring area. The main difference between the two is in the tabletop version shooting is performed directly with the hand, as opposed to deck version’s use of a long cue stick with a fork on the end to push the disc to the end of the Court. Today you will come across deck shuffleboard on cruise ships and in retirement communities. Tabletop shuffleboard is usually found in bars and pubs. Both games are very fun to play and are beneficial in improving your eye-hand coordination skills.

In the unlikely event that you will be going to the pub with your children or you will be on a cruise in the near future, I suggest trying out this homemade version of tabletop shuffleboard with your family.

Shuffleboard

What you need:
Four or five flat, circular, unbreakable objects (lids from milk jugs or baby food jars, plastic hockey pucks, checkers, and so on)
Ruler

What to do:
1. Sit your child at the edge of a table with four or five flat objects in front of him. (If possible, use similar items rather than a mixture of objects.)
2. Ask your child to slide the objects one at a time toward the opposite end of table without sending them over the edge. Each player gets five slides.
3. How to calculate points: award one point for coming within six inches of the edge, two points for coming within an inch of the edge, three points for touching the edge, and four points for hanging over the edge.
4. If you like, have them play against each other to see who gets the most points.

After a couple high spirited games of shuffleboard, you should reward your efforts with a big soft pretzel or a handful of hard pretzels to celebrate National Pretzel Day. While snacking on pretzels, share with your family the story of the pretzel.

The Pretzel Story

It was only a few weeks before Christmas in 610 A.D. The monastery bakery was preparing for the holidays. Brother Bachman was earnestly kneading bread dough while he watched the village children playing in the snow outside the chapel window. "It's too bad they aren't as interested in coming to church and learning their prayers," he thought.

The growing apathy of the village folks saddened him. "If only there was some way to get them back to the church." Brother Bachman continued to work the dough and ponder his dilemma. As he was finishing up the last loaves of bread, he was suddenly struck with a most original idea. He thoughtfully gathered up the leftover dough and began to form pencil-like strips, which he then twisted into a shape that looked like a child's arms folded in prayer. "Ah! a Pretiola!" he declared, which in Latin meant little reward.

He opened the bakery window and called out to the children. "Come in, come in say your prayers, and I will give you a Pretiola!" It didn't take much convincing. Soon each child had learned a prayer and proudly received a "little reward." Rushing home, the children excitedly told their parents. Word of Brother Bachman's idea soon spread through the village, and children and parents alike visited the chapel to receive a Pretiola.

One child proudly placed his Pretiola on the small church's Christmas tree. Not to be outdone, the others followed. Soon the entire tree was beautifully decorated with this unique symbol of their achievements. The Christmas Prayer Service that year was especially festive and bright. The church was filled with families once again. And as the cheerful voices rose in prayer and song together, Brother Bachman smiled joyfully and thanked the Lord for little rewards.

The Pretiola soon found its way into Germany and Austria. It became a symbol of excellence used to reward worthy accomplishments as the church and youth programs flourished. Through the centuries, Pretiola became known as "Pretzel" as we know it today, and decorating the Christmas tree with Pretzels became a special family tradition that continues because of Brother Bachman's bakery inspiration.

Thanks to Box of Wege Pretzel Company (Hanover, PA) for sharing this story.

Pretzels are a yummy treat, but did you know you can make crafts out of them. You can make a number of things with pretzels such as small wreaths you can hang on the Christmas tree, large wreaths you can hang on the wall, picture frames, garland, etc. Let your creative mind take you away.

Pretzel Wreaths

What you need:
Small Pretzels
Wax paper

Twisty-type pretzels

Plain white craft glue

Ribbon

Cardboard (optional, maybe easier for younger children)

What to do:
Use little pretzels. Glue 1 layer of them in a circle like a wreath. If using cardboard, cut out a circle in the size you would like to make the wreath and glue the pretzels onto the cardboard. Then glue a second layer on top of the first joining the pretzels together over the middle of a pretzel on the first layer. Hang with a ribbon. You can weave ribbon between the holes if you would like.

You can't celebrate National Pretzel Day without making pretzels. There are many great recipes for soft pretzels, but if you are short on time. Try this tasty recipe.

Quick & Easy Soft Pretzels

Ingredients:
2 (16oz) loaves frozen bread dough, thawed
1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon water Coarse salt

Directions:
Separate thawed bread into twenty-four 1 1/2" balls. Roll each ball into a rope 14 1/2" long. Design pretzel shapes and put them 1 inch apart on a greased cookie sheet. Let stand for 20 minutes. Combined egg white and water and then brush each pretzel with this combination. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Place a shallow pan containing 1" of boiling water on bottom rack of oven; bake pretzels at 350 degrees on rack above water for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

If you would like something a little sweet and salty, try these popular candy inspired pretzel creations.


Chocolate Carmel Pretzel Treats

Ingredients:
Rolo Candies
Small Pretzels
Pecan Halves

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees and line a cookie sheet with foil. Place pretzels flat on the foil-lined cookie sheet. Place 1 Rolo on each pretzel. Place in oven for 4-5 minutes or until Rolos become soft. Immediately after removing pretzels from oven, place a pecan halve on each Rolo and very lightly press down to spread chocolate/caramel over pretzel. Let stand or place in refrigerator until chocolate/caramel hardens.

Chocolate covered Peanut Butter Pretzels

Ingredients:
Mini pretzels
Mini peanut butter cups
Chocolate chips

Directions:
Unwrap a peanut butter cup. Flatten it with one finger until the top layer of chocolate cracks, and you can see the peanut butter insides oozing out.. Place cracked peanut butter cup on top of a mini pretzel, then place another pretzel on top and press lightly until it sticks. Repeat with more pretzels and candy until you have as many as you like. Melt chocolate in microwave for intervals of 30 seconds until melted. Dip pretzels in melted chocolate and place on wax paper. You have to be gentle because the pretzels might fall apart.. Put in fridge until chocolate has set and is hard.

Pretzel Kisses

Ingredients:
1 bag Pretzels

1 bag Hershey Kisses

1 bag plain M&M's

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place pretzels on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Place a Hershey kiss inside each pretzel. Place in oven for 3-4 minutes until chocolate is soft. Remove and press one M&M into chocolate. Place in fridge until hardened.
Tip: You can vary this with Hershey Hugs or other variety of Kisses if you like.