Tuesdays with Dorie: Bagels

I've been gone from TWD for too long.  Every time a new month came I'd tell myself this was the month I'd get back into it.  First it was going to be for the Biscotti, but then I read they were just okay.  Then I saw the Berry Galette and time got away from me.  Then Fall came and I was in pumpkin-mode so I though I'd quick whip the Pumpkin Cranberry Bread. Think again. That's like a 3-day recipe!

So I finally had a free weekend and decided to make the Bagels.

I took some advice I read on P&Qs and shaped the bagels after the first rise.  

The process of boiling and baking was fairly easy - I just wish I could have fit more than 4 bagels in the water at one time.  

I topped half with sesame seeds.  I really had no expectations for these.  I just needed to say I was back in with TWD.  And I thought, wow, this is a lot of work for bagels and I probably wouldn't make them again.  Then I tasted one.  Woah.  They had a thin chewy layer outside and chewy air-filled bread inside.  I only ate one and took the rest in for the guys at work.  I served them up with Nutella and Apple Pie Jam I recently got at the Philly Food Swap.

I would make these again.  But only if there were people around to eat them fresh out of the oven.  I wasn't sure how they held up the following morning.

If you'd like the recipe check out our host at Heather's Bytes!

So for the make-up post, what did I miss in the last 4 months that I should get to baking??

Tuesdays with Dorie: White Loaves

I think this was my first crack at making a basic white sandwich-type bread.  Most of my other bread making had been reserved for crusty loaves of pot bread.  So I was eager to make this recipe.

I decided to use King Arthur Flour AP flour since it was more readily available on short notice.  I enjoyed reading and learning about the difference types of flours, and I'll most likely use KAF exclusively from now on.  Everything was going well - except that my KitchenAid mixer decided to struggle so I had to knead the dough by hand for awhile (probably not as long as I should have).  Then came time for the butter.  I threw it back in the mixer just in the hopes that it would have perked up a little.  The butter made it easier to mix, but it just didn't look right!  I thought for sure I messed up somewhere.

Here's the dough after the first rise

I made one plain loaf and one cinnamon swirl loaf.  They didn't rise/cook up evenly, but I didn't care one bit.  The house smelled wonderful and we waited patiently to cut into one.  The loaves were very tender while still warm, but once they cooled completely they hardened up a little.  Maybe I left them out to sit too long?  No worries though - I'm about to toast up a slice right now with a thin smear of Biscoff spread and a cup of tea!

My Critic Says:  Good basic bread, but not as fluffy as expected.

Looking forward to a great baking journey with all the TWD'ers!!  For the recipe, please click here!