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                 ABOUT BAGELS -- GENERAL DIRECTIONS 3 A

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 1    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Breads

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
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                       Text

 STEP 2: SHAPE BAGELS

 Prepare baking sheets by lightly greasing them with
 nonstick vegetable spray, or oil with a little
 vegetable oil spread with your fingertips or waxed
 paper.

 Reach into the bread machine pan and pull dough out
 (if it is slightly sticky, dip your fingers into flour
 first.) Some machines punch dough down automatically
 at the end of the rise cycle, and just the act of
 removing the dough from the pan is usually adequate to
 remove gases, but you may need to punch dough down to
 remove any remaining air. Or, remove dough from bowl
 or food processor bowl and punch down.

 Knead dough once or twice and let it rest for 5
 minutes. If the dough is still a little too wet and
 sticky, lightly flour the bread board or your hands
 and knead the dough manually, until it has a smooth,
 elastic consistency. Bagel dough should be stiff but
 elastic; if it's too stiff, sprinkle a little water on
 it or moisten your hands and knead the moisture into
 dough. After you've made one or two batches of bagels,
 you'll get the feeling of the ideal consistency.

 Roll and pull dough into a rectangle about 10x14" for
 a 1-pound recipe and 14x18" for a 1 1/2-pound recipe,
 and let it rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with dried
 fruits, nuts, vegetables, seeds, spices, chocolate, or
 any combination of flavorings. Roll dough into a log
 and knead the ingredients into the dough for a minute
 or so.

 The dough should weigh a little more than the size
 recipe you are using. Divide dough into pieces
 depending on the size bagel you want. A 1 1/2-pound
 recipe yields 8 to 12 finished bagels, each weighing 2
 to 3 ounces, measuring about 4 inches across. Use a
 food scale if you want consistency, or measure with a
 ruler. Cut smaller pieces for mini bagels. Knead in
 added ingredients well before shaping each bagel. You
 can also divide dough and add different ingredients to
 each part so you get a varied batch of bagels from one
 recipe.

 CONTINUED IN ABOUT BAGELS -- GENERAL DIRECTIONS 3 B

 The Best Bagels are made at home by Dona Z. Meilach

 ISBN 1-55867-131-5

 Carolyn Shaw April 1996 From: Homenet Cook



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