PLAIN BAGEL WITH BUTTER RECIPES

Steps:

• Place sugar and yeast in 1/2 cup of warm water. Don't stir it. Let is sit for about five minutes then stir it together.
• Sift the flour and salt into your electric mixer bowl. Make a hole in the middle of the flour, then pour in the yeast mixture.
• Pour in another 1/2 cup of the warm water into the hole. Using a wooden spoon, mix it all up until you have a scraggly mixture. Keep adding water, 1 tablespoon at a time until your dough is moist and firm.
• Using your dough hook, mix the dough for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Add flour if the dough is sticking too much.
• Brush a large bowl lightly with oil and turn the dough to coat. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let rise in a warm bowl for one hour. Then, punch the dough down and let it rise for another ten minutes.
• Cut the dough into 8 even pieces and shape each one into a round ball. Using a floured finger, make a hole in the middle and form each ball into a bagel.
• Place each bagel on a cookie sheet and cover with a damp kitchen towel for about 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil. Using a slotted spoon, lower the bagels into the water. Boil each side for one to two minutes on each side, depending on how chewy you like your bagels.
• If you'd like to put some toppings on your bagels, do it as you take them out of the water. Brush each one with an egg wash (whisked egg + 1 tablespoon milk) and then cover in your toppings.
• Place all boiled and topped bagels on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until nice and golden brown.