Pumpkin Spice Bagels

Originally published in the "Guide to Homemade Bread" issue of Grit Country Skills Series, Oct 2010, pg 65.

4 c bread flour, divided
4 tsp active dry yeast
1 c warm water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c brown sugar
3/4 c pumpkin
1 T pumpkin pie spice (original called for 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cloves, 1 tsp allspice)
1 egg, optional

Water bath:
1 gal water
1 T sugar

In a large bowl, combine 2 c flour and yeast. In a separate bowl, combine warm water, salt, brown sugar, pumpkin, and spices; combine this with flour mixture. Beat at low speed for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl, beat for an additional 3 minutes on high speed. Incorporate as much of remaining flour as possible.

Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface. Knead in additional flour to make a moderately stiff dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Divide dough into 8 equal portions and roll into balls. (Best done with floured hands, it'll be sticky.) Punch a hole in the middle of each ball and gently pull to enlarge hole to 2".

Place bagels in greased baking sheet; cover with tea towel and allow to rise for 20 minutes.

Prepare water bath and bring it to a boil. Once water is boiling and bagels have risen, reduce hear to medium and place bagels, three at a time, in water for 90 seconds, turning after 45 seconds.

Drain and place on baking sheet. If desired, brush with egg wash (beat egg with 1 T water). Bake at 400F for 25 minutes.


Notes: I've made this twice. I got better results when I added the yeast to the water and let it work for 10 minutes, then mixed in all the flour and pumpkin and stuff.

Other updates

Salvage Guy was out with his crew yesterday. Got some stuff done, not nearly as much as we'd hoped. He **says** he may be out tomorrow, and this weekend for sure. I'll believe it when I see it.

By's got to order more j-channel for the siding to continue, so that's at least two weeks away from being finished. Dammit. There's one window left to complete, in the back bathroom, and the back door needs replacing. The storm door has been mounted in the doorway of the new front porch, which still needs steps and the rest of its roof. The insulation and sheathing is done except for about a third of the east side of the house, and a lot of that will get finish plywood and painted, since it'll be inside the three-season porch that is currently the back deck. Oh, and the back decks wants the roof finished and its walls done. So lots still to do.

By finally got the hole around the hose bib bailed out, pipe installed over the valves, and the hole filled back in. Yay! Now we can just take off the cap and turn the water off at the valve instead of digging a 4' deep hole through clay. Double yay!

We gave up trying to get The Bug to sleep in The Miss's room, and moved the big crib out to the front hallway where he's been sleeping. Which left room in The Miss's bedroom for the lime green papasan chair that she fell in love with at Goodwill on Sunday. (We were there for shoes. Really.) I keep going back during her naps to see if she's sleeping in her new chair, but she hasn't so far. But she loves the thing, and it's sturdy enough to last through her childhood.

Am making bagels today, because my family is spoiled. Pumpkin spice bagels, which I posted earlier today, and I'm also trying the cranberry orange bagels from the Taste of Home "Healthy Thanksgiving" issue By found at the store. If they're good, I'll post that recipe too.

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Since a watched pot never boils, and I'm trying to be quiet so the kids will nap (nap! finally!) until the second batch of bagels are done, I've got a few more minutes. And my hands are tired, so no knitting for a little while.

I am knitting the Elementary, Watson! socks for By's dad for Yule. Finished the first one this morning, and started on the second. It's a quicker knit than you'd think, with the cables. Need to pick and start a pattern for By's mom.

Haven't worked on dolls in days. I just can't make myself sit down and do the faces. Why do I have such a hang-up on that? It's a small thing, compared to all the hand-sewing in them, why are the faces such a trial? Erg. Must also make myself sew doll dresses, because some of those dolls have a ways to travel before gifting season.