Need a Carb Fix?

I posted pictures a long time ago on my other blog when I made homemade bagels. I was remembering yesterday when I was making them that I had alot of requests for the recipe. Well, today is the day that I finally got around to putting it up!! These bagels are positively yummy. I usually use white flour just because the wheat makes them very very dense. Sometimes I will mix in 1/2-1 cup of whole wheat if I am feeling a little guilty! The recipe seems long and tedious but it really isn't bad. It is well worth it when you can smell them cooking and you can pull them out and spread lots of butter or cream cheese on them with a cup of tea - heavenly!!

Homemade Bagels

Dissolve 1 pkg. yeast (or 1 T.), 2 T. honey or brown sugar in 1/4 cup warm water. When it bubbles add 1 3/4 cup cold water. In food processor or Kitchen Aid, mix 5 cups flour with 2 tsp. salt. (I have tried the food processor and have had much better success with my kitchen aid using the kneading paddle thingy.)

Add yeast/water and mix slowly (over 2 minutes) to flour mixture with food processor or blender turned on. Once the dough is sufficiently mixed to form a nice dough, knead just a few times on floured surface. Let rise 1 hr. in covered tupperware or warm place. Punch down and knead again a few times.

Roll into cylinders 6" long. Shape into knots or donut shapes. Moisten ends with water to fasten securely. (I just wrap it around and do a small knot. I've never moistened the ends.) Rise 15 min.

In big pot, bring water with 1 tsp. salt and 2 T. sugar to boil. Drop bagels into water for 3 min. turning often. Take out and set on a wire wrack over a bowl to drain just a few minutes.

Bake at 425 on well-greased cookie sheet about 25 min. (mine usually don't take that long - check after about 12 minutes) or until golden brown.

This batch usually makes between 13-16 bagels depending on what size you make them. In our house, about half of them are gone right away!! Hope you enjoy them.