Cinnamon Crunch Bagels

I realize this will be my third bagel post... but they're just so much fun to make!! I blame my loving brother for getting me hooked on a similar type of cinnamon bagel from a local bagel shop at my school...

Now, there's just something about shaping, boiling, baking, and toasting for that perfect crunch and chewy center... every step in this recipe is well worth it! And this recipe was super easy to follow - and don't even get me started on the taste!! With cinnamon both in the dough, and cinnamon sugar on top, you'll see why they're called cinnamon CRUNCH bagels! So a big thank you to "Buns in my Oven" for this terrific recipe, found here!

Now, if this is your first time making bagels and you're thinking it's too much work, or it seems practically impossible...well...frankly, you're wrong. (Sorry.) But these bagels are super easy and so worth it!

Be sure to check out my other bagel posts (here and here) for further step-by-step instructions and tips for making bagels, or read on to see how I made these adorable cuties! (Yes, I made them mini bagel size because I think mini food is the cutest.)

I also took quite a few pictures... so hopefully that helps! I know you can do it! And let's be real, isn't that first bite into a crunchy cinnamon-y bagel smeared with cream cheese totally worth it? (The answer is YES.)

Be sure your water is warm when activating your yeast - and be patient! Give the dough the time it needs to kneed and rise.

Once risen, the dough is wicked easy to shape, and keeps its shape as you drop it into your boiling sugar water. These steps are also all repeated in the recipe, found here. (Posh tip: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up and no stuck-on cinnamon sugar!)

The cinnamon sugar topping was my favorite part... (I love cinnamon if you haven't noticed from some of my previous posts...) Plus, you can save any extra topping for use on toast, pies, cakes, or oatmeal! We always seem to have cinnamon sugar at the ready in my house...

I also love the "homemade" shape look to them...I mean, they don't need to be perfectly round. They're homemade after all!

Thanks again to "Buns in my Oven" for this terrific recipe! If you love a crunchy cinnamon bagel as much as me, I hope you enjoy these! (Also, please be careful when removing these from a toaster... the sugar is very hot! - Trust me on this one.) Next time I make these, I might even throw in some raisins or sprinkle chopped walnuts on top... or maybe toast and serve with caramel sauce! The list of posh is endless!! 

With love (for food),

Ellen

-- A dash of posh can make all the difference in your next dish! --

Cinnamon Rolls

Ciao!

My spring semester is going well, but man is it busy! Between classes, homework, exams, meetings...let's just say I'm on a well-needed spring break! So, here's a little poem to kick off the season!

 Next up, we get to the food!  

I have to share this amazing recipe for cinnamon rolls!! A favorite in my house, they're often requested for Thanksgiving, Christmas brunch (perhaps again at New Years), or whenever the mood strikes! (Let's just say I've made these quite a lot...) Yes, they require a sleepover in the fridge, but the dough is so pleasant to work with in the morning, you'll be jumping outta bed just to make them! Find the recipe here at

 http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/overnight-cinnamon-rolls and see for yourself!

I'm not even kidding - these are amazing! The dough rises beautifully overnight, and the second rise (after filling, rolling, and cutting them) is such a transformation! Mine are practically jumping out of the baking pan! Now, make sure they are fully baked before removing them from the oven. Since they're so tightly packed in the pan, they might take longer than 25 minutes - so use ye'ole toothpick trick and make sure there's no gooey centers! Then, once removed from the oven, drizzle with wonderful icing and serve! (This recipe makes a lot, and leftovers are great! Even if they don't last long in my house...)

I'll always love Taste of Home. Their recipes are simple, delicious, and can be poshed in so many ways! This recipe, for instance, even includes a couple variations, like a dark chocolate or orange-spice filling. The dough is also so versatile - you could fill these with anything you'd like! Other posh ideas include smearing the dough with your favorite spread (I love pumpkin butter) before rolling it up, or layering thinly sliced apples, raisins, and pecans atop the cinnamon sugar. Poof! There's your posh! Pleasepleaseplease try these cinnamon and let me know how much you love them!! (And how you poshed them!)

With love (for food),

Ellen

-- A dash of posh can make all the difference in your next dish! --

Lemon Blueberry Bread

Great recipe alert!! 

Prepare yourself for the flavors of the season with this Lemon Blueberry Bread!

After picking a couple pints of fresh blueberries, some just had to be made into lemon blueberry bread! (But not just any lemon blueberry bread. This recipe, found here, is fantastic!)

The bread took less than 30 minutes to whip together (Just don't really whip it! It's very important to gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet and use great care when adding the blueberries. This way the bread stays light and airy.) Also, since the recipe only calls for a little lemon, I'd recommend adding some extra zest and freshly squeezed juice for that burst of lemon flavor! (Don't be afraid to add a bit of posh right into the batter!)

The recipe also calls for a glaze, yet I found with some extra blueberries and a sprinkle of sugar on top (more posh!) it was just enough! (The extra lemon juice in the batter really helps, too.)

So, if you're up for a quick and easy bread, with fresh summer flavors - this is the one! It stays moist, light, and delicious. It's great for brunch or even dessert! (Or both...like with whipped cream and extra blueberries on the side...) And you can add the icing, or sprinkle your own posh on top. Maybe you want to try it with raspberries in place of the blueberries? This bread would be excellent paired with a cream cheese filling or frosting, too. There are so many ways you can make this your own! Grab your apron and try it for yourself!

'Posh' is Spreading...

Also, quick update! Last night my dad was in charge of dinner, and since I wasn't allowed to snoop around the kitchen or guess what he was making, I was left only with the beautiful aroma drifting through the house of this homemade beef stroganoff. With its white wine and fresh mushrooms, topped with nonfat Greek yogurt (no, not sour cream!) and dried parsley flakes, each plate was a masterpiece and tasted delicious! He really put the 'posh' on this dish and it was amazing! So well done, Dad!

With love (for food),

Ellen

--A dash of posh can make all the difference in your next dish!--