Welcome back! After making banana bread, I was ready to dive into something a little bit more challenging and not so sweet this week. The next adventure was BAGELS!

I heard that bagels are typically hard to make and require a lot of time. However, using the Tasty recipe, I have made 18 bagels in the past two weeks! They turn out a slightly different each time as I tweak the recipe to my preference. There are a ton of bagel recipes on the internet, and this recipe was perfect for trying to make a bread item at home for the first time. The last batch I made, the bagels turned out massive and great for breakfast sandwiches.

At high altitude, I recommend using a tablespoon more of bread flour if the dough seems to be watery or sticky. The Tasty Producer that made this recipe uses a food processor, but I used a KitchenAid mixer instead, and nothing has gone wrong yet (fingers crossed). I am going to make jalapeno-cheddar bagels next for my mom.

Verdict: 9/10 Great for plain bagels and hopefully bagels with more flare! After baking, I let the bagels come to room temperature, and store them in the freezer. At night, I take out one and place it in the fridge to thaw, so it is easier to slice the next morning. The bagels tend to take a longer time in the toaster, nonetheless, the bagels are still tasty!

If a recipe seems to be too intimidating, it is okay! Everyone has to start somewhere, and cookies/brownies are a great start. Slowly build up your baking portfolio and keep trying more recipes that are slightly more complex than the last. Starting small will help you build confidence in the kitchen, and to not get discouraged.

Happy Baking!

•  Danielle.