Never thought it would be so easy

to make BAGELS, but Jessica and I tried them today and they are a HIT! Two thumbs up from everyone :-)

My friend, Glenda, sent me this recipe. We are definitely going to be making them LOTS (and probably will not buy bagels again!). We'll be experimenting with some flavour variations. If you have any ideas, please share!

Bagels

Glenda's recipe was for use in a bread maker.

1 cup water
1 1/2 Tbsp honey
2 cups white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp yeast.

Toss it all in the machine and put in on the bagel dough setting. When it's done, make it into "snakes" then circles. Drop into boiling water for 30 seconds, flip and leave for another 30 seconds. Lift on to paper towel and then onto a lightly greased baking pan. Cook at 375 deg. for 20-25 min.

~~~~~~~~~~

Since I don't have a bread maker, I asked another friend (Thanks, Kathy!) how it should be done. Same ingredients, just the procedure is a bit different.

Dissolve the honey in warm water (water that's not hot when you test it on your wrist, but it is warm). Sprinkle the yeast over the water, and let set for about 10 minutes. Stir, and start adding the flour and salt, mixing as you go. When you can't stir it any more, turn it out on a floured counter, and start kneading, adding flour as needed. Keep kneading until it feels really smooth in your hands, and not sticky, probably about 10 minutes.

**Set into an oiled bowl, cover with a dishtowel, and set in a warm place to rise until it has doubled (stick a finger into it, and if the indent stays, it's ready. When it's done, make it into "snakes" then circles. **

NOTE: Here's what we now do and we find it makes a nicer shaped and bigger bagel. Once the dough is kneaded well, cut it into 6 equal pieces. Roll them into a bun shape and place on oiled/greased baking pan to rise for about 2 hours. Cover them with towel (I used a folded tablecloth). When you have the water boiled and ready, then you can form the rings. Just push your two thumbs into the center of each roll and stretch to form a ring.

Drop into boiling water for 30 seconds, flip and leave for another 30 seconds. Lift on to paper towel and then onto a prepared baking pan. Cook at 375 degrees for 20-25 min.

We made only 6 bagels, but I'm thinking we could have make 8-9, and rolled longer snakes. Our bagels kind of puffed up in height but were a bit small in diameter. Nobody toasted their bagels -- we just ate them warm from the oven. DELICIOUS!

Banana Bread

This is the recipe we mostly use for banana bread. Originally got it from Marion, while I worked at Stepping Stone's Daycare a LONG time ago :-)

Banana Bread

1/4 lb butter (1/2 cup)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 bananas (mashed)
1-3/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk

Cream together the butter, sugar, and eggs. In separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Alternately add the milk and dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Fold in mashed bananas.

Bake in a greased and floured pan at 325 deg for 1 hour, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

I usually bake this in 2 bread pans for about 40 minutes.