Basic Bagel (for The Bread Machine)

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
• 3 cups bread flour
• 3 1/3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons fast rise yeast or 3 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 egg, plus
• 1 tablespoon water

Recipe

• 1 remove dough from the machine after the first knead- approximately 20- 30 minutes.
• 2 place dough on floured surface.
• 3 divide into 8 parts.
• 4 form balls, gently press thumb through center of ball and slowly stretch into bagel shape.
• 5 while bagels rise, bring 3 quarts water and 1 tbs sugar to a rapid boil in a large sauce pan.
• 6 drop test dough (see first success hint).
• 7 using slotted spoon, drop 2-3 bagels into rapidly boiling water.
• 8 boil on each side for 1 1/2 minutes.
• 9 remove and cool on rack 1 minute, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds, if desired.
• 10 bake at 400°f on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal, until golden brown- approximately 15 minutes.
• 11 bagel success hints: when forming bagels, set aside two 1/4" balls of dough.
• 12 when bagels have doubled in size, drop the test dough into boiling water.
• 13 dough should pop to the top right away.
• 14 when this happens, it is time to boil the bagels.
• 15 a quick spray of non-stick vegetable coating on the top of the bagel may be substituted for the egg wash.
• 16 to make bagel sticks, cut bagel before rising and lay out in a straight line.
• 17 roll sticks in a combination of sesame and poppy seeds with a pinch of garlic powder.
• 18 let sticks rise, boil, and bake as described in basic bagel process steps above.
• 19 to make bagel chips, slice leftover bagels horizontally into thin slices.
• 20 brush with butter or margarine on one side.
• 21 lay (butter side up) on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 325°f for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.