Lazy Sunday Mornings

Brew the coffee. Read the paper.Make some bagels. Enjoy the unseasonably warm winter day. It is just a tease for tomorrow comes snow, sleet, freezing rain and bitter cold. Will this winter ever end? We'll have enough bagels to sustain us for a few days!


This recipe is a variation of a recipe from one of those old Sunset cookbooks from the sixties. They specialized in one subject paperback cookbooks- Bread, Chinese, Vegetable, etc,. Lot's of photos and step by step instructions which were especially helpful for anyone unfamiliar with the subject at hand. They are still publishing them in addition to the magazine.


If you have not tasted a fresh bagel, you are in for a treat. It is nothing at all like those donut shaped white bread substitutes you get in the freezer case. The secret is boiling them before baking and they are really very easy to make. And if it is a lazy Sunday, you have the time. The only thing that makes them non vegan would be the topping-butter, cream cheese, smoked, salmon, etc. Today is our vegan day so we serve with vegan margarine or heart healthy olive oil.Break out the cream cheese and lox tomorrow!


Easy Sunday Morning Pumpernickel Bagels


2 packages active dry yeast
2 cups warm water(110 degrees, test it on your wrist)
3 tablespoons dark molasses
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups rye flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
1 tablespoon molasses in 3 quarts water
cornmeal for dusting
olive oil for glazing
caraway seeds for sprinkling


Turn on the Rolling Stones. Loud. No, really loud!

Stir the molasses into the warm water and sprinkle yeast over. Stir to dissolve and set aside.Let sit until foaming.

In a large bowl stir together the flours, caraway seeds and salt with a wooden spoon. Add the water/yeast mixture and stir together into a ball. Turnout onto a floured surface and knead until silky and smooth, 10 to 15 minutes. Add more flour if necessary to keep from sticking but the dough is drier than typical bread dough so this probably won't be necessary. Turn into an oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes.


Punch the dough down, knead briefly on a lightly floured board to release air, then divide into 12 equal pieces. Form each piece into a smooth ball by gently kneading. Holding a ball with both hands, poke your thumbs through center. With one thumb in the hole, work around perimeter, shaping bagel like a doughnut. Place shaped bagels on a lightly floured board, cover lightly and let stand in a warm place for 20 minutes. Don't worry if they don't look perfect like those ones that taste like Wonder Bread. It's all about taste.Turn on Neil Young.






Bring molasses and water to a boil in a large pot and lower to let it boil gently. Lightly grease a large baking sheet and dust with cornmeal. With a slotted spatula, drop 4 bagels(one at a time) into the gently boiling water and turn often for five minutes. Lift out and drain briefly on a towel before placing on the baking sheet.




Brush the bagels with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with caraway seeds. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until well browned and crusty. Let cool on a rack.



See? Easy! Split.Toast. Dribble with olive oil. Grab the paper, a cup of coffee.Turn on Johnny Cash. Enjoy!