Pretzel Bites and Crack Bread

So I saw Alton brown make Pretzels and I was inspired to recreate. They are pretty simple with normal dough-like behavior and they came out with a soft interior but still chewy and salty. I opted for little pretzel nuggets and as I was rolling them out I  started thinking that I had some pepperoni and mozzarella cheese in the refrigerator and so I stuffed a few of them before boiling. I wish I would have stuffed all of them!! Yum.

1 1/2 c. warm water
1 Tb sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 pkg yeast

Combine in mixer and allow to sit for 5 min
Add 4 c. flour and 2 Tb melted butter -may need more or less flour depending on the day

Allow dough to kneed for about 5 min.
Let dough rise about 1 hour or until double

I divided the dough into four parts and then rolled into long snakes, cut into small chunks, and let them rest on the counter for 10 minutes before I rolled them like dinner rolls about the size of a ping pong ball

Ok here's the magic part
Bring a large pot of water to a boil -I think Alton says 10 cups but I didn't measure.
Add 2/3 c. baking soda

Boil each pretzel for 30-45 seconds
Place on a sheet pan, brush with eggwash, and sprinkle with kosher salt
Bake in 375 oven until golden

I served them with spicy mustard and Poblano White Queso
Combine 1 # white american
1/2 c. milk
1/2 white onion diced fine
1 poblano pepper diced fine
1 bunch cilantro
Combine everything except cilantro and micro or crock pot until melted.
Add cilantro
(sometimes if Jon is grilling i will have him char the pepper and onion for more flavor)
Soooo much better than velveeta and rotel...

Ok, now onto Crack Bread - this is a pinterest find awhile back if you look at a picture you will get a visual for the grid... Sorry it was eaten too fast here at work for pics from me.

It's kind of like a crouton meets a potato skin...ish...

Take a bread boule (parbaked if possible) slice it into a grid about 1x1 but don't slice all the way through leave bottom intact

Then melt 6 Tb butter and combine with 2 Tb dry ranch seasoning

In between each bread "cube"  place your favorite cheese, I used shredded cheddar jack but I think blue cheese would be crazy good. Do the same with some chopped cooked bacon and scallions. Then pour the melted butter over the whole thing and bake for 15-20 min. Top will brown and cheese will melt. Then you can just pull apart the pieces and they are covered with cheese and bacon.