• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Dish by Dish

SIMPLE GLUTEN-FREE RECIPES that actually taste good

  • Bread Recipes
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • By Diet
    • Gluten-free
    • Dairy-free
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Paleo
    • Grain-free
    • Egg-free
  • By Course
    • Bread Recipes
    • 30-Minute Meals
    • Breakfast
    • Brunch
    • Appetizers
    • Side Dishes
    • Lunch/Dinner
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • Recipe Index
  • Start Here
    • Blog
    • My Cookbook
    • Work with me
    • Portfolio
    • Resources
      • Top 30 Tips for Food Bloggers
      • Food Photography Tips
      • My Kitchen
      • My Library
      • Printables
      • Cooking Glossary
      • Kitchen Tips
    • Travels
      • Australia
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Italy
      • Singapore
      • Uruguay
      • USA
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Bread Recipes
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog
  • Start Here
×
You are here: Home / Bread / Big Butter Pretzels + My grandfather, Mr Germany Lim

Big Butter Pretzels + My grandfather, Mr Germany Lim

Published: Oct 10, 2013 · Modified: Oct 14, 2013 by Felicia Lim · This post may contain affiliate links

My grandfather, or “Yeye” as we call him, was named to be powerful.

His Chinese name, “Lim Teck Kok”, literally translates into “Germany Lim”, and he certainly lives up to the stature and strength that empowers the west European country in which I spent my university exchange, and coincidentally, where I also met Juan, “mi amor” (or my love in Spanish).

For as long as I can remember, Yeye has been the spitting image of determination to the extent of stubbornness; he’s the sort of person who believes he can bend the will of fate, and very often he demonstrates that despite being almost 85 years old, he’s still headstrong and tough and not to be easily defeated.

Big Butter Pretzels

I remember sitting at his knee when I was about eight, asking him for the umpteenth time to tell me about his wartime adventures.

cornbread in a cast iron skillet
Subscribe

Get delicious GLUTEN-FREE recipes each week!

Yeye, who was born a decade before World War Two erupted, and before the Japanese army occupied South East Asia, would then proceed to tell me about how he had been captured but eventually ran away from the Japanese, running all the way from the south of Malaysia and eventually back to Singapore. I can recall feeling so proud of my grandfather’s heroic and brave escape – I’d imagine him at around 12 years of age, running for his life, knowing not to look back, and just to move forward until he had left his captors behind, and I’d breathe a large sigh of relief, for him and for me (because if he hadn’t escaped, I wouldn’t exist.)

Yeye is a handsome man, with large bright eyes and a sharp nose, and smooth oily skin that all of us in the Lim family eventually inherited.

Because of his smooth skin, people often mistake him to be at least 10 years younger than he actually is, and I remember my aunties telling me that he used to dye the roots of his hair black every fortnight, and it seemed as if he never had a strand of grey hair, despite his years of age.

He is also the kind of person who wakes up at five in the morning to read English newspapers, so his brain would not rot, his way of preventing Alzheimer’s.

Yeye worked hard all his life, and his motto was to change things to the way he wanted them to be.

Big Butter Pretzels5

I remember being on exchange in Mannheim, Germany, back in 2007, when I received a call from my cousin Shawn telling me that Yeye had been hospitalized after falling down, after which the doctors discovered that he had a blood clot in his brain that required immediate operation.

I remember the whiteness of my knuckles as I clutched so tightly to my cell phone, and fear gripping my heart, and most of all, feeling so incredibly helpless and too far away to do anything about it.

So I called him, just before his operation, and told him “Wo ai ni” (I love you in Chinese). I was trying hard to choke back tears and sound strong for him, and as I sat in the car on my way to Hamburg, a trip I’d planned even before Yeye had fallen, I prayed hard, tears in my eyes, calling out silently to God, lifting my family into His almighty hands.

Eventually, Yeye came out of the operation, his condition stable and within 11 days, was discharged and sent back to rest in his home. I marveled at his tenacity to live; after all, a brain operation is usually risky and the outcomes uncertain, but I know deep inside that it is Yeye’s strong will and determination that brought him out, together with God’s answer to my prayers.

Last week, Yeye was hospitalized again, after a stomach ulcer which led to blood in his stool resulted in a fainting spell. Apparently, the stomach ulcer had been caused by Yeye’s years of self-medication – there’s a running joke in my family that Yeye is self-titled “Doctor Lim” – and after the doctor’s warning that he should stop self-medicating, Yeye is back home, resting and recovering.

I called him a few nights ago, and upon hearing my voice, he said “xie xie ni, ni heng you xin” – which means, thank you for caring.

Big Butter Pretzels7

When I think of Yeye, I think of his determination, his strong-willed character, and his belief that it is his will and not fate which decides his outcome. 

And I think of his name, “Germany Lim” and the power of it.

Writing about my grandfather makes me feel much closer to him, despite the continents that separate us.

And today, I want to share this pretzel recipe I found from Melissa’s lovely food blog ChinDeep.

Pretzels are a common snack back in Germany; you can find them being sold from the street carts; they can be eaten buttered, salted or slathered generously with cinnamon and sugar. And they can be eaten alone or with a mug of cold German beer, whichever way suits your fancy.

And because pretzels are so synonymous with German cuisine, I’m dedicating this post to Yeye.

This is for you Yeye – my heroic “Mr Germany Lim”.

Wo Ai Ni!

Big Butter Pretzels4

BUTTER PRETZELS (Makes 12)
Barely adapted from ChinDeep

Ingredients:

For the pretzel dough:
1) 5 cups all-purpose flour
2) 1 teaspoon of salt
3) 2 teaspoons of sugar
4) 4 1/2 teaspoons of dry yeast
5) 2 cups of warm water

For the soda wash:
6) 1 cup of warm water
7) 1/4 cup of baking soda

For the topping:
8) 20g of melted butter
9) Kosher Salt to taste

Steps:

1) Combine the dry yeast and warm water together, mix well, and let yeast mixture rest for a few minutes
2) Mix in flour, salt and sugar, and mix well until combined. If dough is too dry, add one teaspoon of water at a time; if dough is too sticky, sprinkle on a bit more flour at a time.
3) Knead dough for a few minutes until it feels smooth and soft
4) Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a moist cloth, and allow it to rest in a warm place for 30 minutes. Dough will rise.
5) Once the 30 minutes is up, transfer the dough to a floured, flat surface, and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Allow the pieces of dough to rest for 5 minutes.
6) Combine 1 cup of warm water with ¼ cup of baking soda in a shallow bowl to make the soda wash.
7) Pre-heat oven to 260 deg celcius
8) Roll each piece of dough into a long rope (about 15cm), and shape into a pretzel
9) Dip each pretzel into the soda wash before placing on a parchment-lined baking sheet (you may have to split the pretzels into 3 separate trays, baked in 3 different batches)
10) Bake each tray of pretzels for 10 minutes or until the tops are golden brown
11) Remove pretzels from oven and brush generously with melted butter, and then sprinkle kosher salt over.

 

Combine the dry yeast and warm water together, mix well, and let yeast mixture rest for a few minutes. Mix in flour, salt and sugar, and mix well until combined:
Big Butter Pretzels

If dough is too dry, add one teaspoon of water at a time; if dough is too sticky, sprinkle on a bit more flour at a time. Knead dough for a few minutes until it feels smooth and soft:
Big Butter Pretzels1

Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a moist cloth, and allow it to rest in a warm place for 30 minutes. Dough will rise. Once the 30 minutes is up, transfer the dough to a floured, flat surface, and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Allow the pieces of dough to rest for 5 minutes:
Big Butter Pretzels2

Combine 1 cup of warm water with ¼ cup of baking soda in a shallow bowl to make the soda wash. Roll each piece of dough into a long rope (about 15cm), and shape into a pretzel. Dip each pretzel into the soda wash before placing on a parchment-lined baking sheet (you may have to split the pretzels into 3 separate trays, baked in 3 different batches):
Big Butter Pretzels3

Bake each tray of pretzels for 10 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Remove pretzels from oven and brush generously with melted butter, and then sprinkle kosher salt over.
Big Butter Pretzels8

Recipes you might also like

  • Mum’s Pineapple TartsMum’s Pineapple Tarts
  • Grain-free Double Chocolate BrowniesGrain-free Double Chocolate Brownies
  • Chocolate Almond BiscottiChocolate Almond Biscotti
  • Sweet Corn Tart + I wish you enoughSweet Corn Tart + I wish you enough
« Chocolate Quinoa Cake with Vanilla Glaze & Walnuts
Easy Oat Bread Rolls »

About Felicia

Hey you! I’m Felicia, a Singaporean girl who moved to Buenos Aires for love. A couple of things about me: I love food, writing and food photography. I wrote a grain-free ecookbook that I know you’ll love and I also do freelance writing and photography if you want to work with me. Follow me on this blog as I navigate the world of cooking gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free.

Did you make a recipe? Tag @felicialimhz on Instagram. I love to see what you cook!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Miranda says

    October 27, 2013 at 1:04 am

    Hi Felicia! What a wonderful tribute to your Yeye. I’m sure he knows (and can feel) your love and concern despite the miles between you. Still, it’s always so hard being far away from the people we love. I hope Yeye is feeling better!

    Reply
    • felicia | Dish by Dish says

      October 28, 2013 at 10:09 am

      Thankfully Yeye is feeling better!! He’s back home resting and I’m sure once he’s completely well and has no more dizzy spells he will be out and about again! Sending love to you!!

      Reply
      • Miranda says

        October 30, 2013 at 7:17 pm

        Oh, Felicia, I am so glad to hear that Yeye is better. His strong namesake is well-deserved, and I’m sure that you’ve inherited that strength, as well! Here’s hoping Yeye continues to improve!

        Reply
  2. Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says

    October 14, 2013 at 7:09 pm

    My boyfriend’s grandfather had a fall this past summer that resulted in his hospitalization. I remember how hard it was for Josh to face the possibility that he could be really sick. Thank goodness he has gone through physical therapy and we still have him in our lives today. Your story was incredibly touching, Felicia, and I am sure your grandfather is so honored that you wrote about him like this. <3

    Oh and of course these pretzels are fantabulous. 🙂

    Reply
    • felicia | Dish by Dish says

      October 15, 2013 at 9:51 am

      Hey Jess! So relieved to hear that Josh’s grandfather is now ok and that he’s back in your lives! It’s hard being far away from family, and when things like these happen (i.e. hospitalization/sickness of your family members), you feel so helpless being so far from them! Thanks for sharing about Josh’s grandpa!! Take care my dear!! sending love.

      Reply
  3. Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness says

    October 13, 2013 at 10:14 pm

    It sounds like you have a wonderful grandfather, I enjoy reading about him. Your pretzel look wonderful. I have tried making pretzels one time and they didn’t turn out as nice as yours. You are inspiring me to try them again.

    Reply
    • felicia | Dish by Dish says

      October 13, 2013 at 10:33 pm

      Hi Dawn, thanks so much for your kind words, and yes, my grandfather may have his flaws but he’s still wonderful. Hopefully the next time you make pretzels they come out well! Take care and have a good week ahead! felicia

      Reply
  4. Rich Fletcher says

    October 11, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    Great story , reminds me of my late grandfather , thank you 🙂
    Have to add pretzels to my must make list too !

    Reply
    • felicia | Dish by Dish says

      October 11, 2013 at 4:08 pm

      Hi Rich, I think to some extent all grandfathers have the same effect on us grandchildren… 🙂 Thank you for reading & Have a good weekend!

      Reply
  5. Adri says

    October 10, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    Oh my, when I saw the title of this post I expected to read only about pretzels, but it is so much more. Thank you for sharing your story of love, caring and strength across the generations. I send my best wishes for your grandfather’s speedy recovery, and thank you for sharing your story.

    These pretzels sound wonderful, too!

    Reply
    • felicia | Dish by Dish says

      October 11, 2013 at 9:54 am

      Hi Adri! You are so sweet! thanks for dropping by, and I’m so happy you liked the story about my grandfather 🙂 It’s nice to know that others like hearing about my family as much as I love writing about them!! Happy friday my dear!

      Reply
  6. Wee Lim says

    October 10, 2013 at 8:10 pm

    Wow! A captivating post which kept me reading till the end.
    Love Daddy.

    Reply
    • felicia | Dish by Dish says

      October 10, 2013 at 9:41 pm

      Daddy, glad you liked the post. I think writing down about our family is one of the best ways to remember memories so we don’t forget things from a long time ago!

      Reply
  7. Grace lim says

    October 10, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Hello Felicia,

    What a beautiful post you have dedicated to Yeye – I must convey this to him! Cheers and I love you darling 🙂

    Reply
    • felicia | Dish by Dish says

      October 10, 2013 at 9:40 pm

      Hello mummy 🙂 Ok, let yeye know then! I think he will be happy 🙂

      Reply
  8. tinywhitecottage says

    October 10, 2013 at 3:33 pm

    Lovely new blog Felicia! Nice to see one of you posts again….it has been awhile. 🙂

    Reply
    • felicia | Dish by Dish says

      October 10, 2013 at 3:57 pm

      Hi Seana! so glad to hear from you! Happy fall and hope you’ve been good (job + family)! Sorry I haven’t been commenting much on your blog – now that I don’t have the WordPress “Reader” platform to show me the latest updates on the blogs i followed on wp.com, I sometimes lose track! take care my dear friend! Will pop by over your blog soon!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hello & welcome!

Hello & welcome!

I’m Felicia: a girl from Singapore who moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina for love. My husband is Celiac so I test and share gluten-free recipes on my blog! I help people with food intolerances and allergies cook and eat delicious, healthy food! Stay a while, and let's be friends! ♥

Read my story here →

Subscribe

to receive free email updates!

Most Popular

    Soft, Fluffy Buckwheat Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

    Gluten-Free Madeleines (Dairy-Free)

    Gluten-free naan in a cast iron skillet on a wooden board

    Easy Gluten-Free Naan Recipe (No-Yeast, No-Yogurt, Dairy-Free)

    Easy Honey Oat Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Option)

Air Fryer Recipes

Easy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Air Fryer Corn on the Cob (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Pinterest image for crispy air fryer zucchini fries

Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Bread Recipes

Gluten-Free Jalapeño Cornbread (Dairy-Free)

Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Bread (Dairy-Free)

Soft, Fluffy Gluten-Free Bagels (Dairy-Free, No-Boil)

Easy Brazilian Cheese Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Latest on the blog

How to Make Cashew Milk (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan)

Easy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Gluten-Free Madeleines (Dairy-Free)

Gluten-Free Jalapeño Cornbread (Dairy-Free)

Footer

Never miss a recipe

Sign up to get recipes via email

Footer


About

  • New? Start Here
  • Latest on the Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Me
  • Work with Me

Recipes by Diet

  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy-Free
  • Vegan
  • Egg-Free
  • Vegetarian

Recipes by Course

  • Bread Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • Main Courses
  • Snacks
  • Desserts


^ back to top

© 2022 Dish by Dish. Privacy Policy. Brunch Pro Theme by Feast Design Co.