Sourdough Bagels (recipe)

Hello!  Tonight I am going to share a recipe for homemade bagels that I made yesterday (and are gone already!!).  I posted a photo to my instagram account (@belleandrew) and the recipe is below: 

SOURDOUGH BAGELS:
1 cup sourdough starter*** (see below)
2 eggs
3 tbsp oil
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar

In addition you will need a large boiling pan (like you would use for spaghetti noodles, say) filled 3/4 with water and 2 tbsp sugar.  

In a stand mixer bowl (with dough hook attached) combine the starter with eggs and oil.  Mix together flour, salt and sugar.  Add to starter mixture.  Mix on low speed for approx 8 minutes, adding enough additional flour for the dough to leave the sides of the bowl.  Cover with a cloth and place in a warm area until doubled in size.  (1 1/2 to 2 hours).  Turn out onto lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces.  Round into a ball and poke a hole in the center using your fingers and stretch/pull gently to create the bagel shape.  Cover again and let rest 20 minutes.  Meanwhile boil the pan of water with sugar in it.  Drop each bagel into the water one at a time.  Only boil a few at a time.  Cook 7 minutes, turning once. Drain; place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 375* for 25-35 minutes (depending on your oven...mine only took the 25 min), rotating pan halfway through baking.  Bagels should be golden brown.  

Makes 1 dozen bagels.

Once you get the hang of making them, you can add various extra ingredients for a variety of bagel  types!! Store in an air-tight container or large ziplock bag.  Enjoy!

***A quick note about the sourdough starter... I keep one on hand all the time in my kitchen, but many people don't.  You can look up a basic sourdough starter recipe online (try www.allrecipes.com) and use just about any you find to your liking.  Be sure to use it at its bubbly peak for this recipe to get the extra punch and tang of sourdough!  

Any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to drop a line! :)

Cream Cheese Banana Cake Bars (recipe!)

How many of us are really glad Spring has finally arrived?  Even though we still have the chilly morning temperatures and the occasional frost on the ground..Spring has definitely arrived.  The mid-day is sunny and almost-warm even!! Great time for making these bars as a special treat. :)

CREAM CHEESE BANANA CAKE BARS
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup vanilla yogurt (or plain)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4  tsp salt
2 mashed bananas

for the cream cheese topping:
1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
roughly 4 cups powdered sugar

In a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs, yogurt and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt; slowly add to the creamed mix.  Stir in bananas.
Spread into a greased 15x10" baking pan (OR use a couple of smaller cake pans). Bake at 350* for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool completely on a wire rack in pan.

For the topping, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla.  Gradually add the powdered sugar and allow to beat until desired consistency.  Frost the banana bars. Store covered in the fridge any unused portion. :)

 

Dutch Apple Pie Recipe

Dutch Apple Pie







You will need:
1 single crust pie dough, fitted into a 9" pie plate and chilled

for streusel:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tbsp yellow cornmeal
6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

for filling:
2 tbsp unsalted butter
approx 7-9 medium to large granny smith apples (peeled, cored, sliced 1/4" thick)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup half & half (or you can use heavy cream)

1. Heat oven to 375*. Line chilled pie crust with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake until dough looks dry and is light in color (approx 20 to 25 min). Place pie plate with crust on a wire rack and remove weights.

2. For streusel: mix the flour, sugars, and cornmeal together in a med bowl, then add in melted butter and stir with a fork until combined and crumbly-looking.

3. For filling: Melt the butter in a large pan (that has lid). Stir in apples, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Cover and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until apples begin to soften. (About 5 min). Stir in raisins and continue to cook, covered, about 7 minutes longer.

4. Drain apples through a colander or sieve, reserving the juice. Spoon the fruit into the waiting pie crust. Mix the reserved juices with the half & half in a saucepan. Bring to low boil and cook, while stirring, about 3 minutes. Drizzle over the fruit in the crust. Sprinkle the streusel over the filling. (This will be piled rather high in the center, and is tricky to not make a mess everywhere while adding streusel...resist the urge to pack it down).

5. Bake at 375* for about 25 minutes or until browned. Remove from oven and let rest on wire rack about 2 hours for the filling to set. Serve warm with vanilla ice-cream if desired! :)


Enjoy this recipe particularly when apples are aplenty! Also very good with fresh whipped cream instead of ice-cream. :)