Enjoying the Outdoors with My Bagels!

No Straw Earth Plaster Flavored Bagels Here!

Now I am usually successful at baking, not to sound big headed. I love trying new recipes but for some reason this bagel thing was the bees knees!

I made bagels! Recipe # 3 in the BBA Challenge!This was the most rewarding recipe ever! I have never attempted bagels before. Besides being in an outdoor kitchen, I thought they were a tad bit intimidating but NO!! I loved making them and want to make them again. Ok, so I kneaded what seemed like forever on this counter top were I hung all the cast iron skillets, so with each push of the dough – CLANG! Almost 13 minutes worth of clanging till I got a window pane. I so wanted to stop. It was the first hot day and the clanging! But wow! Once I get the dough done it was a breeze. Formed the little rolls – 20 minutes – then stuck my finger in the middle and kinda turned it around my thumb to get the bagel shape and then 15 or so minutes later – FLOATING PROOFED BAGELS! I did have to really shuffle some things around to store in the fridge overnight. But I make an extra cooler for leftovers and got them to fit in safely. I must have checked on them a million times.

I couldn't sleep all night. I was so excited to wake up and boil and bake. I set aside poppy seeds, sesame seeds, kosher salt and dehydrated minced onion the night before in my “shopping box”. My “shopping box” is the box of items that must return to the main house at night as to not attract any bears and other creatures of the night. So every morning I head back up to the house to retrieve. I had remembered to bring a few things on the plane in my 200 lbs of luggage including barely malt syrup so I was set.

I woke up extra early. I put the outdoor oven to as high as it would go. There is no internal thermometer but so far this week it seems true to the dial but 500 degrees...who knows. I prepared the pans with cornmeal. Got the dutch oven full of water and added the baking soda. I un-bungeed the fridge and got out the proofed bagels. Into the water the first four went. I finished all of them. I topped with mentioned toppings and put into oven. I set the timer and followed the directions – rotating pans and what not....and then I HAD BAGELS!! Woo hoo! Yay! I cannot tell you how proud I was them. I took tons of pics...like newborns!




I made them a little smaller than the suggested 4 or so ounces so that everyone at the workshop could try. Everyone was so supportive. I told everyone about the Bread Group that I was a part of. I kept everyone posted about the bagels process. Salai was the first to congratulate me. I showed her the just baked bagels and she gave me a big hug! Lynn took a look see and Mark too. Everyone loved them too!I served the bagels with cream cheese, sliced tomatoes and red onions. We also had sweet potato pancakes, bacon and spinach with eggs. Even Adam from Manhattan said this is a pretty good bagel. Hey for a first time I was happy. I wrapped up two for Mom and she can tell me tomorrow what she thinks. I loved the taste of mine and it was chewy and good. David made a Bagel BLT and gave me the thumbs up!

This like I said, was a rewarding experience and has sealed why I am looking forward to the rest of the challenge. Everyones emails and suggestions were so helpful. I wish I would have had time during the workshop to read them all. I still plan on going back and reading everyones experience.

So bagels. They rock. My bagels. They rock. Maybe it was the fresh out doors, the smell of straw, the three sided kitchen. Maybe it was all my talking about how excited I was about bagels that I couldn't let everyone down or perhaps it was the challenge of baking outdoors. I am proud of myself. Now on to Brioche. I am in my Moms tiny kitchen so wish me, us luck!!
Thanks for all the support!

I will be back tomorrow to chat about the last few days of the workshop. I had a blast. I was proud of my work. Everyone was so thankful and I made new amazing connections and friends. I spent time with the most creative 10 year old, watched my bro and his house mates kick ass and work super hard. I was so happy to have the meals hot and ready and didn't mind working hard for them and even washed the dishes. I wanted to do good by them. Also, my Mom surprised us on Friday and returned for a Spaghetti and Kale Meatball dinner with the neighbors. We had yummy breakfast with just the folks that live there – Eggs Florentine and cheddar grits and finished the day with Burgers and Salad with homemade buns. I had lots of bread success in the outdoors but my greatest achievement (besides bagels) was being a part of something so special with the most caring and hardworking people. Looking forward to the next time.

Thank you Mom, Mark, Val, Danielle, David, Lynn, Salai, Hae Won, Remy, Felix, Stacey, Rick, Joey, Gracie, Adam, Majorie, Maren, Big Teddy and Arthur.

The whole experience was a blessing!

Now I am going to take the longest bath ever!