Saturday, October 27, 2012

TWD: Bagels! (and Veggie Cream Cheese)

 I'm sorry. I'm sorry I've been gone for a week and a half. I'm sorry I haven't posted a new recipe in nearly three weeks. The kitchen being painted, our house's lack of heat due to a boiler switch, schoolwork, pottery classes, and various other shenanigans got in the way of baking these past couple of weeks. I actually made an okay gluten-free carrot cake last week, but it was kind of crumbly, and let's just say that the chocolate "glaze" resulted in a cracked, hard-as-rock layer of yuck. Overall, not a great culinary period of time...
 ...but. Last weekend, these bagels. Bagels have been on my to-bake list for years, and I never got around to making them. I was so excited when I saw that they had been chosen as last week's Tuesdays with Dorie! This week was actually a fifth Tuesday of the month, so we had a make-up week in case we wanted to go back and make something we missed. Perfect!
um, YUM!
 The dough was kneaded, left to rise, deflated, left to rise, shaped into doughnut shapes, boiled, baked, and left to cool. I made the quick Vegetable Cream Cheese from the book, using red bell peppers instead of radishes. The cream cheese was light and refreshing, as opposed to the heavy, buttery spreads that can sometimes be piled onto deli bagels.
Listen, dears. (I feel that as I'm writing about a recipe made on Julia Child's show, calling you dears is appropriate. 'Kay?) The thing is, I live in New York City. My hometown basically is the bagel capital of the world (Montreal, I don't even want to talk about this with you). I was skeptical that these could live up to the chewy perfection two dollars can get you on my corner.
I was wrong to doubt this recipe. These bagels are tender, golden-brown bites of delicious. They are like a very, very good New York deli bagel (although not quite so huge, which is a good thing). I am so glad I got to try out making this usually-store-bought staple at home, and I know I will be making bagels again in the future; that said, I'm not promising to never buy one again.
If you live near a great bagel place, give this recipe a try and compare the two results. Let me know what you find? If you don't live near a great bagel place, you must give this recipe a try, if only to understand what all the fuss is about. ;) The recipe, as always, can be found in Baking with Julia or on the host's blog, Heather's Bytes. Thanks for hosting, Heather!
    Enjoy!

10 comments:

Sweet and That's it said...

Wow, amazing what you have been through in such a short time. Hopefully peace and relax will soon find your life.
...and amazing on how many "to do list" bagels have been. Yours look delicious and I'm glad you loved them.

Sophia said...

Thank you! This weekend has been wonderfully relaxing, and extended by a day by Hurricane Sandy

Have Apron....Will Bake said...

Your bagels are beauties! I can understand your hesitance to make bagels when you live so close to great bagel makers.
Now I'm curious to try this recipe too, as I've never made bagels.
Also want to say that your writing is excellent. Very entertaining and engaging. (well done!)

Sophia said...

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Your bagels look delicious. Hope all is well with you and that you and your family were untouched by Sandy. Best wishes.

oven chaos said...

Lovely bagels! Just listening to the news about New York, I am glad to see that you are baking and posting to your blog.

lauren said...

I was so impressed when I made these. I too found they rivaled some NY deli ones. I hope you weathered the storm okay! Great job!

Sophia said...

Thank you! My family and I are fine - just watching movies to get through the next couple of days indoors :)

Unknown said...

I'm 15 and have just started a food blog t0astfordinner.blogspot.co.uk

Sophia said...

Your blog is great, Ayeisha!