Quarantine Activity #1: Make your own bagels!

I usually prefer to bake sweet things, but now that I've been isolated to my apartment for several days, I need a break from all the sugar (and also I need some regular food to eat)! It's been a really long time since I last made bagels, but boy is it ever fun! And a warm, fresh bagel is seriously one of the most delicious things! I don't have kids, but I had a ton of baking up bagels, so I can only imagine kids would too! Once you've got all your ingredients mixed up well, divide it up and get your kids to knead it! At the kneading stage, kids (and adults) can also work in food colouring, sprinkles, raisins, chocolate chips, nuts and seeds, rosemary leaves, onion flakes, etc., to customize their own bagels! The flavour possibilities are endless for both sweet and savoury bagels! Plus, the bagels will then make a great breakfast/snack/lunch option!

• 1.25 cups water
• 4 cups flour + 0.5 cup flaxseed (or omit the flaxseed and use 4.5 cups flour
• 3 tbsp white sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil (you can use melted butter if you're out of veggie oil)
• 1 tbsp instant yeast
• Optional: 2 tbsp chia seeds + 2 tbsp water

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix! You can use a stand mixer with a dough hook, or mix and knead by hand. Knead until the dough is quite stretchy - about 10 minutes! Cover your dough (in the bowl) with plastic wrap, and a tea towel, and allow it to rise for 2 full hours. Punch the dough down and transfer it to your working surface. Roll the dough into a log and slice as many or a few pieces as you want! Shape each slice using your finger to punch a hole in the centre and working it into a bagel shape. Repeat with all your slices, and allow to sit for another 15 minutes. Preheat your oven to 475 F. Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a saucepan, add in about 0.25 cup corn syrup (or honey) and a dash of salt. Boil the bagels, 3 at a time (or as many fit in your saucepan) for about 1 minute on each side. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and sprinkle each bagel with sesame seeds, rock salt, rosemary... whatever your desired toppings are! Bake for 15-20 minutes until the tops of the bagels begin to brown. Remove from over and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Watch the tutorial on youtube here:

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