My love affair with soft pretzels
I am from Philadelphia, home of the cheesesteaks. But, more importantly it is also home to the Soft Pretzel. OH dear lord I could eat them all day long. And I practically did. If you are not familiar with a Philly Soft Pretzel it is not like the Super Pretzels you see in the frozen section or at a concession stand. Oh no, these are doughier and fun to mold between your fingers.
Growing up, the best part of going downtown for a game was that we would get a bag of soft pretzels on the street 4 for a $1. Best deal EVER. For that price everyone got their own bag.
For road trips I would stop at Wawa (if you aren't familiar it's like a convenient mart but a thousand times better) and grab a soft pretzel or two to go. They are easy to eat while driving. Well except the salt that gets all over the seats. That is a PAIN to get out.
My favorite snack at the movies is pretzel bites. Sadly, they are always gone before the previews are over.
Oh and don't get me wrong. I am in no way knocking Auntie Anne's pretzels. I HEART them too. In fact I want cry because there is one located on the first floor of the mall where I walk at lunch. I walk on the second floor, but that smell drifts up and gets me every time. As if that isn't bad enough, they have now put in a small kiosk on the second floor. I cannot smell it, but I have to walk by those pictures every lap. I think I leave a trail of drool when I pass it.
I worked for one company for several years that had it's own cafeteria. Every morning we would go down and either get pancakes or a soft pretzel. Oh yeah, I was eating soft pretzels for breakfast for about 3 years. I did not get to 200 lbs by accident.
Along with "donut" days we have Pretzel days at work....a lot. It just about kills me. I HAVE to say no. Because I can't stop at just one. I would binge eat them. I would sneak around when no one is looking and grab another. I looked up the calories once and thought "Oh that's not so bad". Until I saw that it was a serving size of "half" a pretzel. But, that's not the problem. If I have one that is just opening the floodgates for more. I am seriously addicted. And they just don't have a Soft Pretzel Addicts Anonymous. Maybe I should start one. I am now the founding member of S.P.A.A.
Tonight there is a happy hour at a bar that has the best appetizers EVER:
I don't usually go to work Happy Hours, but I am going to this one. And now you know why. I NEED to find someone to share this with though, because I will eat both.
So now that you know this about me, let me just say that I am preparing for this. I have a delicious homemade salad for lunch. I have snacks for the morning and afternoon (yogurt, carrots, hummus). I am ready. I will still feel guilty about eating this tonight, but that's ok. This is a treat. It's easier for me to allow myself to eat this than to go to Wawa and pick up a few of theirs at the register. Don't ask me to explain it, but it makes sense in my head. Some things are better left unsaid.
******Ok, confession time. I wrote this last night so that I could go to the happy hour and not worry about posting. But, the happy hour has been postponed due to the flooding and rain in the area. (If I see an ark float by I am jumping on). But, I WANT those pretzels...so now my work husband and I are discussing going just for the pretzels. I will be going next week so I don't need to go tonight, but I am so fixated on it I probably will. I will let you know what happens.
****Please note****
If you feel like you are alone on your journey and you just need some encouragement I am here for you! Shoot me an email and I will do my best to check in on you or give you the words of support you need several times a week. The journey is so much easier if you have support.
jhendersonfit@gmail.com
Growing up, the best part of going downtown for a game was that we would get a bag of soft pretzels on the street 4 for a $1. Best deal EVER. For that price everyone got their own bag.
For road trips I would stop at Wawa (if you aren't familiar it's like a convenient mart but a thousand times better) and grab a soft pretzel or two to go. They are easy to eat while driving. Well except the salt that gets all over the seats. That is a PAIN to get out.
My favorite snack at the movies is pretzel bites. Sadly, they are always gone before the previews are over.
Oh and don't get me wrong. I am in no way knocking Auntie Anne's pretzels. I HEART them too. In fact I want cry because there is one located on the first floor of the mall where I walk at lunch. I walk on the second floor, but that smell drifts up and gets me every time. As if that isn't bad enough, they have now put in a small kiosk on the second floor. I cannot smell it, but I have to walk by those pictures every lap. I think I leave a trail of drool when I pass it.
I worked for one company for several years that had it's own cafeteria. Every morning we would go down and either get pancakes or a soft pretzel. Oh yeah, I was eating soft pretzels for breakfast for about 3 years. I did not get to 200 lbs by accident.
Along with "donut" days we have Pretzel days at work....a lot. It just about kills me. I HAVE to say no. Because I can't stop at just one. I would binge eat them. I would sneak around when no one is looking and grab another. I looked up the calories once and thought "Oh that's not so bad". Until I saw that it was a serving size of "half" a pretzel. But, that's not the problem. If I have one that is just opening the floodgates for more. I am seriously addicted. And they just don't have a Soft Pretzel Addicts Anonymous. Maybe I should start one. I am now the founding member of S.P.A.A.
Tonight there is a happy hour at a bar that has the best appetizers EVER:
BALL PARK PRETZELS
I don't usually go to work Happy Hours, but I am going to this one. And now you know why. I NEED to find someone to share this with though, because I will eat both.
So now that you know this about me, let me just say that I am preparing for this. I have a delicious homemade salad for lunch. I have snacks for the morning and afternoon (yogurt, carrots, hummus). I am ready. I will still feel guilty about eating this tonight, but that's ok. This is a treat. It's easier for me to allow myself to eat this than to go to Wawa and pick up a few of theirs at the register. Don't ask me to explain it, but it makes sense in my head. Some things are better left unsaid.
******Ok, confession time. I wrote this last night so that I could go to the happy hour and not worry about posting. But, the happy hour has been postponed due to the flooding and rain in the area. (If I see an ark float by I am jumping on). But, I WANT those pretzels...so now my work husband and I are discussing going just for the pretzels. I will be going next week so I don't need to go tonight, but I am so fixated on it I probably will. I will let you know what happens.
****Please note****
If you feel like you are alone on your journey and you just need some encouragement I am here for you! Shoot me an email and I will do my best to check in on you or give you the words of support you need several times a week. The journey is so much easier if you have support.
jhendersonfit@gmail.com
I love Philly soft pretzels! I've traveled to a lot of places and haven't seen anything in comparison. My wife says I complain too much when I say a meal is so so when I compare them to cheesesteaks, hoagies, pretzels, tastycakes, and other Philly foods.
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