Neapolitan Pretzel's

This is a Neapolitan Pizza dough recipe I use to make pizza and Neapolitan Pretzel's. The Neapolitan dough brings a different taste to the pretzel while the Parmesan Cheese and pizza spice give it a Neapolitan twist. I shape the dough in balls because it is easier to roll them in the topping the trying to top knotted pretzel.

1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water (105 degrees F)
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup cold water
1 2/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon sea salt

2 quarts water
1/2 cup baking soda

Parmesan Cheese
Pizza spice

In large mixer bowl stir together dry yeast and water. Let sit for 10 minutes until creamy. Mix olive oil and water. Add one cup of flour salt, mix using bread hook. Continue adding flour one cup at a time. Mix on slow for 8 minutes. Add extra flour and water as necessary.
Cover dough with a warm moist kitchen towel and let rest for 15 minutes. Separate dough into 24 pieces and form tight round balls. Cover the dough and let rest for one hour.

Combine water and baking soda in a medium pan and bring to a boil. Boil dough for 15 seconds then place on a cooling rack. Roll balls in Parmesan cheese and pizza spice to desired flavoring and bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until cooked through.

Dip in pizza sauce.

Stimulus Checks

Stimulus checks are coming out or have come out for some people. It's hard to say what to do with them. The wise financial moves would be to pay down debt and invest for retirement however those are the best long term choices and might not help you in the short term. In order here is what I would do with the money:

1. Tithe: Not only is tithing the right thing to do but when your money isn't going as far the church isn't getting as much and what they have isn't going as far.
2. Pay Off Debt: If you have a loan which is less than or equal to your stimulus check amount rid your self of that debt. It's always good to reduce the number of debts you have so if you can eliminate one do that then put the payment towards one of your other loans. A married couple who gets a $1200 dollar check could and has six months left on there car loan can break free of that debt.
3. Pay Down Debt: If you don't happen to have debt equal or less than your stimulus check pay down your highest interest debt. If you have a 5 year car loan and drop an extra $1200 on it you will save a few hundred dollars in interest and pay the debt off a few months early. Once you get it paid off early start paying down your other debt, saving it for a future purchase (a new car, house, college, retirement).
4. Buy Groceries: Kroger is giving a 10% bonus on stimulus checks. You could turn $300 into $330. That's a pretty good short term deal for any family. I like to see a savings above 25% on the receipt when I go grocery shopping, this 10% should easily bump me into the 35% category. I wouldn't get a gift card above the $300 threshold but it sounds like a good deal. Sears, Radio Shack and a few others have similar deals but groceries are a better bet.
5. Save: Stocks are down so now is a good time to invest. Put it into your retirement account (Roth IRA, IRA, etc) your kids college fund (529).
6. Build and Emergency Fund: Build up your rainy day fund so if you need a new car you don't have to go into debt to buy one.
7. Green up your house: Buy an energy efficient water heater, an energy efficient heater, CFLs, a new AC, more insulation, whatever it takes to green up your house and save you few dollars off your monthly bill.

The first 7 items saved you money in one way or another. Either by paying less interest, earning more interest, or paying less on bills. The next few items have no monetary return.

1. Stimulate the Economy: If have no debt and have your 401k set to max out your company match, you are going to max out your Roth IRA contributions and have an emergency fund why not have a little fun. If you are going to have fun remember to negotiate as i mentioned companies (including hotels) are giving away incentives for spending your check with them. If you want to go someplace that doesn't already have an incentive set up ask for one.
2. Give it all away: If you have done everything above or just don't need to spend money on yourself donate it to charity. I like local food banks and Lutheran World Relief (they have low overhead so 93% (corrected see comment) of your money goes to good causes not the office).