Homemade Bagels

I love bagels, sooooo much. I eat one almost everyday, which really isn't healthy but they are my favorite breakfast food! Yesterday Ryan and I made some from scratch. We used this recipe by Christy Chu.

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 quarts boiling water
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• 1 egg white
• 3 tablespoons poppy seeds

Directions

1. Place water, salt, sugar, flour and yeast in the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough setting.
2. When cycle is complete, let dough rest on a lightly floured surface. Meanwhile, in a large pot bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar.
3. Cut dough into 9 equal pieces, and roll each piece into a small ball. Flatten balls. Poke a hole in the middle of each with your thumb. Twirl the dough on your finger or thumb to enlarge the hole, and to even out the dough around the hole. Cover bagels with a clean cloth, and let rest for 10 minutes.
4. Sprinkle an ungreased baking sheet with cornmeal. Carefully transfer bagels to boiling water. Boil for 1 minute, turning half way through. Drain briefly on clean towel. Arrange boiled bagels on baking sheet. Glaze tops with egg white, and sprinkle with your choice of toppings.
5. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F (190 degrees C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until well browned.

It is important to note that neither of us has a bread machine, so we just kneaded it by hand. We made 6 bagels, half of them were blueberry and half were cinnamon sugar, for me! 

For the cinnamon sugar bagels, I put in about 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and about 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. I also sprinkled some regular sugar and cinnamon on top after the egg wash. They turned out to be yummy, but next time I am adding way more brown sugar and cinnamon. I didn't want to over do it, but I think they would be more flavorful and delicious with more!

The blueberry bagels proved to be a bit more difficult. We used frozen blueberries, and really should have drained some of the juices out, because when we started to mix them into the dough, it added so much liquid it wouldn't stick together, so we had to add a bunch of bread flour to keep it all together. It was a bit of a mess getting them formed, but they also turned out to be delicious!

It was a fun experience, it took a while to make them. And the boiling part was difficult, I broke one of the cinnamon sugar bagels taking them out and I got pretty frustrated, but over all it was a success.

Oh! And we also made blueberry cream cheese by mixing sugar and blueberries and blueberry juice into some cream cheese!

I can't wait to make these again, and try some different flavors :)

Craft Show and New Earrings

My mom told me the other day that my small hometown is having a craft fair on October 15. I'm happy to say I'll be participating! I'm nervous but excited to hopefully sell some of my work and meet new people. My town is super small, so I am curious to see how many people and vendors will be there!

In other news, I posted some more stamp earrings :)

One of my classes was cancelled today so I'm already done, but I am so exhausted for some reason. I think I need a nap...goodnight :)
Brooke

A Pinteresting Wednesday!

My friend Ashley from Everyday Ashley has an awesome blog, and she has inspired me to work on mine! She participates in Oh How Pinteresting Wednesdays, and as a Pinterest addict it only makes sense that I try it out. I'll link up over at The Vintage Apple!

I am so ready for cold weather. I need to start knitting again. No AC this summer made knitting completely unappetizing, but its finally getting cooler out! These are the coziest looking socks ever

 In two of my education classes we've been talking about owls. They are amazing animals, and also adorable.

So cute

I desperately want a house to decorate. 

Glow sticks in the bathtub...awesome. I would have loved this as a kid...who am I kidding, I would love this now.

This is a gorgeous print from the Etsy shop oh, kirby!

I spent a good portion of my math class today not paying attention and brainstorming ideas for this blog. I am excited to write about some new stuff!

Brooke

Pictures from the week

I've been trying to take more pictures lately. In high school my friends and I took pictures and video of everything we did, but since college, I haven't been documenting in photographs like I should. I love looking back at the memories, and when you have the technology, why not?

Here are a few from the past week...

 Little tomatoes on my back porch

 Yep, I live here. Isn't it beautiful?

 My walk to the bus every morning, something like 5 stories. It's ultra fun.

Delicious homemade potato and bacon soup

Looking at pictures from my week is making me feel a little better about this rough start to my weekend.

Trying to be optimistic

This weekend I had plans to go see my friend for her birthday out of town. I got 30 minutes out and my car battery dies. I made it back home, but I'm sad to be spending the weekend alone, instead of surrounded by friends.

I'm trying not to be too upset, so I'm going to make it a productive weekend!

Just took pictures and posted some new stuff! Two flowery necklaces and another stamp necklace!

 Creamy Yellow Resin Flower Necklace

 Yellow Bloom Resin Necklace

Traveling Girl Stamp Resin Necklace

Here's to hoping this weekend isn't a total bust!

Labor Day Weekend Part 2

During the Spring semester a bunch of my good friends were studying abroad all over the world. One of my wonderful friends studying in London knew I was embarking into the world of resin jewelry and she brought me back a huge bag of beautiful British stamps.

So here's what I've been working on! Today I finally finished them up and posted them:

 Orange Queen Elizabeth Stamp Resin Earrings

Blue Queen Elizabeth Stamp Resin Earrings

Muted Orange Queen Elizabeth Stamp Resin Earrings

What do you guys think? A little different than the flowers, but I like it!

Labor Day Weekend Part 1

I'm so happy to have some time off this weekend. It has been a crazy week of school, and I think its only going to get crazier...

I haven't had as much time as I wanted to craft, but I am going to do what I can over the next few months and squeeze in some crafty time!

Today is going to be a lazy day, and we will see what all I get done.

I'm still pretty tired from yesterday. My boy and I attended the High Country Beer Fest!  It was quite the experience. I think we both agreed that our favorite was the Thomas Creek Vanilla Cream Ale.  Just like a cream soda, but beer! We also got to go to a beer and cheese pairing class. Its kind of ridiculous how much I love cheese...we got to sample a bunch of super delicious and expensive cheeses. It was awesome.

I'm so happy to have some down time today. I'm trying out some new stuff in my shop. I make a lot of basic large pendants, so I tried to use some smaller ones.  I worked on this earlier in the week. I think it came out pretty cute and elegant!

Five Piece Resin Flower Necklace

And I've got some other new and different stuff coming....