Here's another one. I made this years ago (like 25 - 30) and I can't remember if I came up with any "tips" that helped. Sorry - it was too long ago.
Philadelphia Soft Pretzels
1 pkg active dry yeast
1¼ c warm water
2 tsp salt
4 5 c flour
butter or oil
4 tsp baking soda
coarse salt
Dissolve yeast thoroughly in ¼ cup water. Stir in additional water. Mix 4 cups of flour & salt in large bowl. Add dissolved yeast. Add additional flour to make a stiff dough. Knead 10 minutes or until smooth & elastic.
Roll dough into a ball. Place in a greased bowl, turning to coat top. Cover with a towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1½ hours.)
Pinch off a small ball of dough & roll between your hands to form a coil 20 inches long & ¼ to 3/8 inch in diameter. Shape the coil into a pretzel, pinching ends to shape a pretzel. Shape remaining dough into coils, then pretzels.
Dissolve baking soda in 4 cups water & bring to a boil. Drop pretzels, one at a time, into the boiling water & let boil one minute or until pretzel floats. Remove & drain. Place drained pretzels on buttered baking sheets. Sprinkle with coarse salt.
Bake at 475 for about 12 min or until golden brown.