Saturday, March 1

The Bagel Woman Cometh...

As is typical of me, the craving demon hit me at some point last weekend, Saturday evening to be specific. I couldn't tell you what triggered it, but suddenly, I HAD to have bagels. It might have been residual craving left over from the Reuben episode a few weeks earlier. I don't know. It doesn't matter.

All you need to know is that I had to make bagels. So, let's make bagels shall we?

So, I hopped on over to Recipezaar, you know, where the worlds recipes are, to look for a bagel recipe.

There were alot on there, so I found a basic one and, since I don't ever follow recipes, I proceeded to make it my own. I wanted to make them whole grain, with a high fiber content, the ultimate goal being to make them as Weight Watchers friendly as possible! Those of you who follow 'the plan' will know what I am talking about- Anyhoo, these are delish and are only 2 points!


Basic Bagel Recipe:
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 packages yeast
1 pinch of sugar (to activate the yeast)
1 pinch of salt
3 1/2 cups flour- I used 1 cup of spelt flour, 2 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour. I also added flax seeds and about half a cup of oatbran.
2 quarts water , to boil
1 egg white

My bemused husband could only shake his head when I pulled out the Kenmore Pro mixer at 8pm, but I think you know by now, it had to be done.

First, put the water and sugar in the bowl of a mixer and let the sugar dissolve. Add the yeast and let it stand til it gets frothy, like so:



Combine the flours and salt, dump it into the mixer and mix on low speed using the dough hook for about 10 minutes or so. Put it in a greased bowl, cover it and let it rise til it is doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 350!



Once the dough doubles, punch it down, turn it out onto a floured surface, and divide it into 12 equal balls, like so:



At this point, fill a pot up with water and put it on the stove to BOIL. Meanwhile, go back to your bagel balls, take each ball and punch a whole through its middle, so they look like this:



Cover them and let them rise a bit more. I was making everything bagels, so I got together what I wanted on the top. I used chopped fresh basil, sea salt, cracked pepper, rosemary, sesame seeds and some crushed red pepper:



Now for the fun part, dunking the bagels in scalding water! I think this is what makes them chewy, but I am no bagel expert.

At this point, the water should be boiling. Turn it off. Take the bagels 4 at a time (depending on how big your stock pot is) and drop them in the water. About 45 seconds on each side. Put them onto a baking sheet:



Now take the egg white and brush the tops of the bagels and dunk them in your toppings:



Slap them in the oven til they are golden brown, about 20 to 35 minutes, I can't say for sure cause I don't know how hot your oven runs. IF you want, you can flip them half way through.
Suddenly, you have BAGELS! Amazing, no??



I devoured 2 right then and there and they were DELISH.
I went to bed happy.

The next morning, a rare thing happened here in Norway, the sun came out!!! After months of darkness, I could feel my soul stirring in reaction to the rays of the sun. I knew the weather could change quickly, so with military precision, I orchestrated our first outdoor breakfast of the year. I was handing things to Christopher and shouting 'Go! Go! Go!'. Just kidding. I wasn't shouting that, but I really wanted to catch the sun while it was a-shinin'.

So, we set the table and the bagels performed so well! Here is what Christopher had for his sunny breakfast:




And here was mine:



So, we ate our bagels, soaking up the late winter sun, wrapped in scarves and coats, drank our hot coffee and enjoyed every minute of it!!

Now go make bagels!!!!

8 comments:

meanderings said...

Those look delicious!

Unknown said...

Wow, only 2 points? I'm gonna have to try that (but I say that about all your delicious creations, and so far I've only made roasted russel sprouts!)

I love to imagine you two with your breakfast outside in the cold but sunny Norwegian countryside. As someone who has lived in Norway, I know how precious that sun can be. Heck, I'm in Wisconsin and it's the same deal!

Thanks for sharing! I might have to take a trip to Norway just so you can feed me your creations and I can meet your adorable dog (and you, too, of course!) :)

Scott M said...

What an amazing scene that must have been. At least in my head it is... I'm romanticizing the sun sparkled glassware and sunray kissed fatty bits of the meal. Delicious!

If not a mother... said...

That looks SO YUM.

Jen Yu said...

Wow - you made bagels?!? I'm impressed, and they look awesome for brekkie... mmmm. Great job.

Shell said...

wow those look great - I haven't made any for a few years, may have to make some this week! Thanks for the great reminder.

Shannon said...

I have the same pasta maker and made pasta once in the 12 years I've had it! I wish I made it sooner and more often. I love Jamie Oliver. The show comes on here in the U.S. too.

As for the bagels, I'll make those this weekend. I call my husband the bagel connoiseur since he LOVES bagels and is finicky about which ones he'll eat.

Have you gone to Michael Ruhlman's blog? I think you'd like it. (ruhlman.com)

sana said...

hey! My dad has recently been diagnosed with diabetes and refuses to take any medicines to help it so he's on a pretty strict diet to keep everything under control and since he loves to eat I feel so bad for him and try to make things at home for him that are okay for him to eat. I really want to make bagels for him and was wondering if this recipe is diabetic-friendly?