April 22, 2007 - Bagels from Scratch
I've always enjoyed cooking and trying new recipes. And I've always prided myself on my ability to cook from scratch -- better tasting, healthier, and usually cheaper than buying pre-made.
Then comes LIFE IN CHINA.....
Living here has forced me to make things I never thought I would. The term "cooking from scratch" takes on a whole new meaning! Scratch means starting at an even more basic level.
Consider this:
- frozen burritos
- buying tortillas, meat, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, and salsa to make them "from scratch"
- making homemade tortillas, making homemade salsa, draining homemade yogurt to make sour cream, buying lettuce, meat, and cheese to make them "from scratch"
I used to think that the middle option was cooking from scratch, and it was -- THEN. But now, I'm at the bottom option. Not because I necessarily want to cook from scratch like that, but simply because I have to.
You're probably thinking, that you'd NEVER make tortillas or salsa from scratch. Yeah, I used to think that too. And for a long time I didn't . But then I really started to miss those things and I realized that it's actually worth the effort to make them. After all, there is nowhere to buy them, so the only recourse is to make them yourself.
I was reading Tammy's Recipes lately in which she was sharing about homemade bagels. "Oooh, bagels!" I thought. "I haven't had a bagel in quite some time! That would be so yummy. Let me try to make them!"
And thus you have my Saturday morning project -- making my first ever batch of bagels. It was a grand success!
Here is proof:
The crazed look on DH's face is because the bagels are so good!
The only problem is that I made only 8 bagels! Next time I'll double or triple the recipe. If I'm going to do all the work to make homemade bagels, I may as well make a lot. It's not really much more work to double or triple the batch.
I used the recipe at Bunnyfoot's blog.
Mixing the dough.
(Don't let the dark window fool you; I wasn't up THAT early. It was overcast in the morning.)
Making the dough into bagel shapes.
Boiling the dough -- this gives the bagels their characteristic chewy texture!
Draining the bagels after boiling them.
This is my addition to the recipe -- I brushed egg onto the bagels before sprinkling the sesame seeds. Simply break an egg into a dish, add 1 Tbsp. water, mix well, and brush onto your bread (of any kind) before baking. Brushing on egg makes your bread a nice golden brown.
Ready to go into the oven.
Voila! Bagels complete and ready to serve!
Comments
April 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by drewsfamilytx
Wow, those look sooo delicious!'
Oi veh, woman, I live in the US of A....the land of a bzillion bagels. Now you're making NONE of them good enough for me! Aggghhh!!!
That might have to be my project for Monday or Tuesday. Thanks for posting the recipe too-- I love using recipes that are tried and true!
So did you have to make your own cream cheese?
Marsha
April 22, 2007 - Great
Posted by Kinley
Those look good! They would have to taste better than the store bought stuff we get the the states. So what foods do you miss the most, that you can't make??
Kristy
Edited by Kinley on April 21, 2007 at 9:01 PM
April 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by nsremom
Loved your hubby and daughter's looks.....they LOVED them bagels!
I've made lot of bread 'from scratch' no harvesting my own wheat or anything though....so you're right....it really wasn't FROM SCRATCH.
but, I've never made bagels. Not sure why, but I think that since I can get them for $1.49....I'd rather not. :)
your daughter sure is learning about being industrious and diligent. (my name is Emily and it actually MEANS industrious and diligent.....are you sure you aren't really Emily?)
April 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by skdenfeld
Wow, you are good! I'm feeling very spoiled right now.
April 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by westward
Oh Yum!! I can't wait to try these. I can't seem to find a good bagel around here anymore that isn't loaded up with junk and preservatives. Thank you for posting. The pictures are especially nice, too!
April 22, 2007 - YUMMY!
Posted by ClagettsFLStyle
Can I come over for some bagels and coffee?
Those look so good. I've always seen recipes for bagels but never thought I could actually make them. Hmm.. may have to give it a try now!
Enjoy!
April 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by debdillon
Ohh, those look great! I've tried to make them before and they didn't turn out so great. I think I'll try the bagel like you gave and give it another go someday.
April 23, 2007 - Wow~
Posted by ReviewsbyHeidi
Those bagels look fantastic! It reminds me that I tried making bagels once~ not totally as "from scratch' as yours because I mixed my dough up in the bread machine~ but I did do all the other stuff!
Good for you! You should be proud!
Heidi
April 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Wow those look incredible. I bet they taste much better than the store bought ones.
Living in China as a motivation for cooking from scratch. Now that is a new one! LOL Thanks for joining the carnival!
Stephanie
April 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by TNMOMTOMANYBLESSINGS
You make it look so simple. I am excited at the idea of trying these. Yummy!!!!!
April 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by grace4gayle
Jimmie, you impress me to no end. Wish we were neighbors!
Those are the best darn bagels I've EVER seen!
Gayle
April 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SAMIAM
Thos look sooo good! I love bagels! I can't wait to try out the recipe!
April 25, 2007 - nice
Posted by Anonymous
My wife needs to take a hint with these...yummm
April 25, 2007 - Yummy!
Posted by Anonymous
I've been wanting to make those ever since I saw them over at Tammy's Recipes. Those turned out beautifully...I'm so hungry now.
http://happyheartsathome.blogspot.com/
April 25, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by PumpkinsMomma
Those look really good. Similar to when we made homemade doughnuts! You should try that next!
marie
April 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Prncsstefy
Those do look yummy!!!
April 27, 2007 - How cool is that?
Posted by AHappyHome
I just made these today! Mine were a bit sticky and was hard to pick up off the drying rack to put onto a cookie sheet; I see you used a dishtowel. Mine were onion and poppyseed and the SMELL was AMAZING. Yum yum yum.
Blessings,
Keri
April 27, 2007 - Just checking in...
Posted by KerryLeighinNC
Hi! I've enjoyed reading your blog - and of course the photos for a few months now (acutally since summer, I think). I'm sorry you didn't win the award - I definitely think you should have!
Thought you might be interested in checking my blog - just got back from China! I helped a good friend bring home her newly adopted daughter (#5! - first adoption). We went to Beijing, Changsha and Guangzhou. I though of your blog often - especially as we giggled at the MANY funny signs! Anyway, I'm posting my travel journal on my blog. (actually my new blog: www.theten0clockscholar.blogspot.com - the 0 is a zero not a letter "O")
I'll post some of my photos later, but if you are interested in seeing them email me and I'll send you the Kodak EasyShare link. ekwilliamson@carolina.rr.com.
Thanks for sharing your life in China with us!
Kerry
Edited by KerryLeighinNC on April 26, 2007 at 5:37 PM
April 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I so enjoyed stumbling across your blog just now. We adopted our daughter from Fujian Province 18 months ago, and it was fun to see the pictures of Beijing and references to your experiences that we have seen briefly too! Fun blog!
www.xanga.com/Langhaven
August 31, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
*grin*
When we were in Ukraine, I canned my own salsa every year. And, honestly--it was a lot of work and only shared it with the Americans and very few Ukrainians who would REALLY appreciate it. We were able to get Arminian lavash that sorta worked in place of tortillas, so I only made tortillas by hand a few times. But we never tried bagels. . .
TulipGirl
www.tulipgirl.com
