I’ve been a slug with my challenges, lately, but I’m going to try to pick it up and not fall too far behind. To review, Michelle over at Big Black Dog, organized a group to bake from the book by Dr. Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe François, Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day.
I’m late with this one, but I couldn’t resist this last assignment: Making a full batch of the Master Whole Wheat Bread, and making a Moon & Stars loaf and Cinnamon Raisin Bagels!
That’s my Moon & Stars Bread up top, there. Yes, I know. It looks pregnant. I have no idea why. It shaped up very pretty and smooth, but when it rose during the resting period and then again in the oven, it developed that peculiar notch-looking indentation near the top and then kind of bulged out a “tummy.” Oh, well. It tasted really good – MJ rated it “two thumbs up”!
Then I moved on to the bagels. While I haven’t been actively participating in the group over the last couple of months, I have been monitoring the conversations. I have to admit to being a little fearful when approaching the boiling stage. Would they fall apart? Would they become terribly misshapen?
Taking no chances, I boiled the bagels in a large stockpot, two at a time. I sprinkled whole wheat flour on the greased baking sheet. In the future, I think I’ll try the traditional corn meal, instead.
Not bad for a first effort. They taste very good, but were still a tad on the dense side.
Oh, and a side-note: Don’t try to recycle the boiling water by cooking pasta in it. Not pretty.
The moon and stars bread look terrific.
That last line has me laughing! First try at bagels? Wow! Pretty darn good! I have their first book and love it and looks like I'll have to buy the second now, too. Your pregnant bread looks perfect and love the bagels. Yum, cinnamon raisin is my fave!
Really great looking breads, especially the bagels! Mine fell apart, yours look fabulous. Love that last line! 🙂
I have this cookbook and need to get busy using it more. Thanks for the inspiration! Homemade bagels are the best, aren't they? Yours look yummy!
Great job on being brave and trying the bagels. I tried them once and haven't been brave enough since to try again…but maybe I will…great job!
Your bagels look like some of the best anyone has made so far. And the moon and stars looks great as well.
Your bagels are wonderfully shaped. I wouldn't care if the moon and star bread has a bump. It is perfectly browned and looks delicious.
I've been a slacker too but the bread just wasnt gettin eaten. These moons ans star bread does look delicious!
I still need to make bagels, I tip my hat to those of you who did 🙂 The Star and Moon bread looks perfect. I just love the flavor of sesame seeds.
I think your moon and stars bread looks good. It doesn't look pregnant to me. It looks yummy! I didn't get to that one. I made the bagels. They were a little bit tricky. Your bagels look great especially for your first try.
Your pregnant Moon and Stars bread made me smile 😉 I agree that the bagels were slightly dense but they tasted great toasted.
Your bagels came out fine looking! I use parchment paper under mine, that is when I make them. LOL. I chuckled when I read your comment about re-using the water to cook pasta. Hmmm hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the warning!
Your bagels look great, much better than mine. Your moon and stars bread is absolutly glowing. 🙂
bread looks great…bagels look wonderful! I had a great time making bagels. I will remember not to cook pasta in the bagel water LOL