Soft Giant Pretzels(or not so giant!)

Yesterday along with my french bread, I made some soft giant pretzels(or not so giant!) I didn't want to make them too big for fear that my kids would try one bite and decide they didn't like them and then I would have to eat all of them! This way I have little ones where I can use them as a snack or even put them in the freezer for a later date and still not eat tons of them at once.
Here are the pretzels after putting them thru the boiling baking soda water.... Here are the pretzels after baking....
Here is the recipe(thanks to my friend, Angie)....

1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. water (70-80 degrees)
3 cups flour
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1-1/2 tsp. yeast(I used instant yeast)
2 quarts water
1/2 c. baking soda(used a scant 1/2 cup)
coarse salt(used regular salt because I didn't have coarse)

In bread machine pan, place first 4 ingredients. Select dough setting - add more flour or water if it looks like it needs it.

When cycle is done, divide dough into 8 balls. Roll each ball into a 20-inch long rope, then form into pretzel shape.

In a large saucepan, bring water and baking soda to a boil. Drop pretzels into boiling water, two at a time, and boil for 10-15 seconds. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towel.

Place pretzels on greased baking sheet and bake at 425 for 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Spritz with butter and sprinkle salt on top.

Notes:I used bread flour,instant yeast, and regular salt in the recipe when I made it. I found the dough to be VERY sticky when it finished the cycle. I didn't add flour while the dough was going thru the cycle,I put the dough on a floured surface and kneaded it in while shaping the pretzels. I also sprinkled a cinnamon/sugar mixture over some pretzels.

Family likeness---youngest didn't try them, 2 loved them, 2 rated them alright, and 1 tried and didn't like(but he doesn't like hard pretzels either so no surprise there!)