Sesame Seed Bagels

When I was in my 20's, my friends and I got into the habit of throwing bagel parties. We'd make bagels and various toppings to go on them and perhaps drink an alcoholic beverage or two. In retrospect, the whole idea seems a bit unusual, however, I'm not sure that I've had more fun at a party since those rosy, cozy bagel days.

The interesting thing about bagels is that they're both boiled and baked, so you need to keep your wits about you when making them. I remember one party when the bagels went very wrong, looking and tasting much like hockey pucks. We ate them anyway.

Editorial Note: When things go wrong, just use lots of butter.
 
Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 package of dry yeast (1 tablespoon)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt

Poaching Liquid:

• 16 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Glaze:

• 1/2 cup sesame or poppy seeds
• 1 beaten egg

In a large bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the top and let the mixture stand for 10 minutes until frothy. Whisk 2 eggs into the yeast mixture along with the oil; then beat in 2 cups of the flour and salt until smooth. Gradually add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough, then turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it for 10 minutes. Place the ball of dough in an oiled bowl and cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap and a tea towel. Let the dough rise for about an hour and a half or until it has doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. while simultaneously heating the water and sugar (for the poaching liquid) in a large pot on the stove. Punch the dough down and divide into 12 equal portions (use a knife to cut the dough). Roll each piece into a 'rope' and then bring the ends together to form a circle. Pinch ends together firmly.

When the poaching liquid is at a boil, drop the bagels in ( 4 at a time) and poach for 1 minute. Remove the bagels from the liquid with a slotted spoon, place them on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper, then brush the bagels with the beaten egg glaze and sprinkle them with sesame or poppy seeds. Pop the cookie sheet into the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the tops of the bagels are golden. Place them on a rack to cool. Then party on.