For the past five years at least, we had been without our central air conditioning. I know that central air isn’t standard in many places around the world, but here in Pennsylvania, our summers are hot (and getting hotter) and humid (and only getting more humid,) so central air really is a requirement. Ours died a handful of years ago, though, and since then, we had been making do with portable air conditioners in essential rooms with the rest of the house remaining unlivable in about half the year. That “rest of the house” included the kitchen; as a result, I have avoided cooking and baking in all but the coldest seasons and weather.

This year – this March – we finally had the ability to replace our central air conditioning unit. Finally, after years, inside our house is all a consistent, (reasonably) cool, dehumidified temperature. I keep forgetting I can bake in summer now, though.

Today, I remembered. Usually, on Sundays, I make bread, but this past week, I had already made some; and when I looked this morning, it hadn’t even been cut yet. So I was left with a day with nothing I needed to bake.

Enter King Arthur Baking’s sourdough pretzels. This has long been my favorite soft pretzel recipe, and it’s also a great way to use sourdough starter discard when I feed my starter (which I do every Sunday to maintain it.)

So now I have pretzels AND air conditioning. Life truly is good.