Happy Monday: homemade bagels and a food blogger praise

I have been meaning to write this post for a couple of weeks, more precisely since when I finally tackled one of the recipes in my wish-to-make-soon list: homemade bagels. I really thought this was going to be a hard recipe. Somehow bagels intimidated me....up until that day! I knew I needed a trustworthy recipe and when I need that I know where to look for: Joudie's blog, Mood Food.

You should know that Joudies' blog is one of the blogs I follow since the very beginning of my journey through the food blogsphere. And for several reasons, of which I will mention the two I believe are the most important ones. First of all, her philosophy when it comes to food, so well represented by the name of her blog. I have a long (way too long) wish-to-make-soon list and every day, when I go through hundreds of food blogs, I add more to it. There are so many recipes out there worth trying, so many recipes that make me drool...but at the end of the day I always choose what to make according to my mood at the moment. My mood more than anything dictates the ingredients I'm craving for, whether I want to use a simple cookies recipe or a complex layered cake recipe, whether I need a creamy tart or a yeast good. Joudie's blog definitely catches my own approach to prepare and eat food. 

The second big reason why I love her blog is that she presents even complicated recipes in an easy way. I do love challenging myself and I do believe that some people have more natural talent for cooking and baking (she certainly does! I don't consider myself one of those people with natural talent!), but I also believe that everybody can learn and get better. She makes you feel like "you can do it!". And you can. 

That is in fact how I could make homemade bagels: by following her recipe and her step by step instructions. Well, mine did not came out quite as pretty and perfectly round as hers...but I think it was a good first time and above all...it was stress-free. Everything happened very smoothly and this for me is very important because you all know that I consider baking as a relaxing activity...if I have to get stressed also in baking I don't do it.

So here is the recipe but you should really look at her post for step by step instructions and pictures.

Bagels

Ingredients

yields 14 (really) big bagels*

840 gr (29.6 oz) bread flour


15 gr (1 tbsp) of salt

7 gr (1 ½ tsp or one packet) instant yeast

30 gr (2 tbsp) sugar

15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil

540 ml (18.2 fl oz) warm water

*On my first try I used half of the ingredients because I did not want to risk failing 14 bagels. Joudie mentions that they grow a lot in size during the boiling process...and it's so true. Mine came out enormous even if I was warned!

Below are Joudie's instructions with some additional comments from myself:

Mix the flour, the salt, and the yeast into a bowl/kitchenaid. (As you all know, I don't have a kitchenaid and I did all this by hand...totally doable)

Add the sugar, the water and the oil together and then mix into the flour mix.

Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes. This will help activate the yeast and work the dough. (If you are kneading by hand just keep going for about 10 minutes)

When it is done kneading, let the dough rise in a bowl that is well oiled and cover with oil all over for about an hour in a warm space until double in size.

When the dough has risen get an apple-size chunk, and shape it in to a ball. (Really, a small apple-size chunk...they become gigantic during the boiling process!)

Press down in the middle to make a hole and press all around to make it even and you will get a nice sized hole to work with. Make sure it is big enough as you are going to let it rise again and don't want the hole to close up. (Absolutely true! Make the hole big! Also, you guys are probably all better than I am in making bagels but it took me 2-3 bagels to practice in order to get them well round and smooth...that's why they do not look very nicely shaped...oh well, I'll do better next time!)

Once you have made you bagel shapes, place them on a baking sheet with parchment paper and let rise for another 20 minutes or so till they have doubled in size.

I made about 14 bagels, but they turned out quite big. I could have made about 20-22 . I should have made them smaller, but I didn't realize they would get so big while boiling. (Yeah, as I said I did 7 bagels but they could have been 10ish!)

While they are rising, get some water in a pan and bring it to the boil, adding 1 tbsp of sugar and 3 tsp baking soda.

Get your bagels about 3 at a time, and boil them for 1-2 minutes, on one side only. Drain them and place them on a baking sheet.

When they are all ready, egg wash them and coat them with sesame, poppy seeds, dried onion flakes, cinnamon sugar, or leave them plain. They will taste amazing whatever you choose. (I chose poppy seeds, cinnamon, cinnamon and raisins and plain...they were all super yummy)

Then place them in an oven at around 390F degrees for about 15-20 minutes. If you have many shelves, rotate them once in a while.

Take them out when they have turned an ice golden brown and let them stand for about 20 minutes before serving them. (yeah, right! I ate half of them before they cooled down :) )

Have a sweet day!

Source: Mood Food