Buttermilk Bowknots

These are a holiday favorite in our family. My mother made up the recipe many years ago and they are easy to make and delicious with any meal. Nostalgia always makes me think of serving it with a roast bird. 

Ingredients:
1 cup buttermilk
1 package (2 1/4 tsps) yeast
2 tbsp of softened butter, plus 3 tbsp melted (reserved)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda

Warm buttermilk to 90-110 degrees.  In a mixing bowl, combine warmed buttermilk and yeast and stir.  Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Stir in softened butter, sugar and salt. Sift together flour and baking soda and add to the buttermilk mixture slowly while mixing with a dough hook (you can do this with a spoon if you don't have a stand mixer). Once the dough has come together, knead for 8 minutes (10 minutes if you don't have a stand mixer). Split into 18 pieces and roll out into long pieces that can be tied into a knot.  Place the knots on a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet.  Brush with melted butter and cover with a towel.  Allow to rise in a warm spot for 1 hour. Heat the oven to 425 and bake for 12 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm.