Baking Bagels

Today's inspiration comes from this website.  I watched a Food Network show where I learned how bagels were made.  I had no idea that bagels were first boiled before baked, so I thought I would give it a shot.  It turns out that fresh bagels are really good!

Ingredients

• 4 cups bread flour
  
• 1 tablespoon sugar
  
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
  
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
  

Directions

1. Mix and knead the dough well.  
   
2. Cut into 8 equal pieces.  
   
3. Let rise for 10-20 minutes.  
   
4. Roll up the dough pieces into snakes and connect the ends to create the bagel look.
   
5. Let sit for 20 minutes.
   
6. Boil water and cook each side for 1 minute.
   
7. Place the bagels on a lightly-greased cookie sheet and bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes on each side (flip once).  I pulled the bagels out about 3 minutes early because they looked like they were done... and they were. =)
   

Stuffed French Toast

While my wife was out learning how to take better pictures, I decided to treat myself to a new sweet breakfast.  I mostly followed this recipe to create a sandwich-like french toast.  I didn't want a real bulky french toast "sandwich", so I thinly sliced some homemade bread made by a neighbor.  Since it was a few days old, it was perfect as french toast bread.

To top it off, I added homemade strawberry jam, fresh strawberry pieces, and whipped cream.  My mouth is watering just describing it again.  Since it turned out so well, I made it for my wife for dinner the same day!  Goes well with bacon.

The Ingredients

• 2 ounces cream cheese
  
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  
• 1 egg
  
• milk
  
• a dash of nutmeg
  
• strawberry jam
  
• strawberries
  
• 4 slices of bread
  
• whipped cream
  

The Directions

1. Mix the cream cheese and vanilla.  It's helpful to warm up the cream cheese for ease in mixing and spreading.  Spread the mix on 2 slices of bread.  Sanwich the pieces (filling side in!).
   
2. Mix 1 egg with a little bit of milk -- 1 to 2 tablespoons. Add a dash of nutmeg.
3. Dip the bread in the egg mixture or brush onto the bread to avoid making it more soggy than necessary.
4. Cook both sides.  For serving, I slice the sandwich diagonally to create 2 triangles.
5. Warm up the strawberry jam.  It helps keep the french toast warm instead of cooling it off.
6. Add strawberries.  I like them cubed.
7. Add whipped cream.

Yield

Makes 2 french toast sandwiches.