"Everything-is-better-with-posh" Bagels

Posh...on a bagel?

Bagels. You may think of cream cheese, peanut butter, or maybe even salmon, but posh? Posh on a bagel, too?

Let's talk about posh for a minute. What is 'posh' exactly? I toss around the term a lot, and it's become a major part of my life. I try to put a little bit of 'posh' in everything I do, make, even the way I dress! It's fun! But, what exactly is it?

In short, it's a lot of things. So, here's ONE type of 'posh,' or at least one way of looking at it.

I'll put it into a food reference so we can all understand it a little better. Recall one of my first posts "Bagels - A beautiful and delicious transformation" (don't remember? click here for a refresher!). Well, the other day I found myself in a creative mood (and craving bagels). So, I decided to test my bagel making and posh skills with this wonderful recipe for Honey Whole Wheat Bagels, "everything" style!

I have to ask - why take the time to make something, following a recipe, and merely leave it at that? Why not be a little creative and add a little posh? Posh, in this case, is the creative spin you can put on your dish. Whether it's a topping, a sprinkle or garnish, or an entirely new ingredient - posh makes recipes special. It's a way to put yourself into each dish!                                                                                                                                       For example, I could have made this bagel recipe as I've done before, and leave them as delicious honey whole wheat bagels. OR I could make an "everything" topping and put a creative spin on this treat. (I chose the latter.) And it turned out fantastic! Never be afraid to try something new, or show a little of yourself in your dish. Sure, I've had recipes and ideas which don't work (like using raisins as a topping and not realizing they burn in a 450 degree oven, then tasting them...tastes like burned sugar.) But that's part of the fun! You'll never know if you don't try. And who knows? Maybe you'll find something you really like by adding that extra pinch, or sprinkle on top.

I definitely recommend taking the time to make these bagels. They're super fun, and really easy! Enjoy each moment as you shape the dough, let it rise, and add the posh. (Then toast and smear them with cream cheese as soon as possible, even if it means you're having bagels for dinner!) Take a creative spin on your next dish and let me know how it works! (And trust me, this won't be the last time you hear about this 'posh' business from me!)

With love (for food),

Ellen

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

Peanut Butter Banana (Chocolate Chip) Muffins

Muffins - Bakery Style (and healthy!)

I was in the mood for muffins...but not just any muffins! You see, I love muffins and muffin-shaped foods - I could eat muffins every day and love it! Yet, sometimes my muffin recipes end up with flat tops, or they're too heavy, and it breaks my heart. So, I've been doing some research...

In searching for how bakeries get that big, puffy, delicious muffin top, I began to notice how some recipes called for a baking temperature of 425 degrees, before lowering it to 350 degrees to continue baking. Intrigued, I had to try it. And viola! This recipe, from Sally's Baking Addiction, tested just that and was a huge success!

Almost full 

I found the recipe on Pinterest (where else?) and within minutes I was in the kitchen. And my grandmother's "Ellen is baking something" sensation must have been tingling because she stopped by the house just in time to try one! (And may I say, they totally passed inspection.)

Baking the muffins at 425 degrees for the first 5 minutes made such a difference, for it gave them a chance to puff up on the top, then continue baking after lowering the oven to 350 degrees. I also followed the instructions when filling the muffin pan, and put the batter nearly to the top of each liner (this recipe made 12 wonderful sized muffins.)

Now, for the taste - delicious! The chocolate chips are optional, but something about peanut butter, honey, and chocolate just makes a girl happy. I added a handful of mini dark chocolate chips into the batter, and sprinkled some on top before baking. (That's what I call posh!) Not to mention, these muffins are healthy! Healthy with everyday items! I'm all for good-for-you meals/snacks and these were perfect! Made with whole wheat flour, Greek yogurt, no butter, no oil - it's a muffin good enough for breakfast or a mid-day snack! (or both...and maybe lunch, too) I know you'll just love them! So, click here for the recipe, preheat your ovens to 425, get your ingredients out, and let your posh shine!

With love (for food),

Ellen

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

AMAZING Whole Wheat Banana Bread

BANANA BREAD - Whole Wheat & Wonderful!

There are SO MANY recipes out there for banana bread...trust me. I've looked! And then I found this one...You see, these browning bananas in my kitchen have been watching me for a couple days, and I knew I just had to take care of them. No banana looks at me that way and doesn't get made into a recipe! Meanwhile, I had been looking for a banana bread recipe which could be considered a "bread"  (meaning we could slice it, toast it, peanut butter it up, etc) rather than a cake or 'treat.' PLUS I wanted it to be made with whole wheat flour and act as a good, solid foundation for breakfast. This bread, below, this one simple recipe - made all these wishes come true. (But be careful what you wish for... or else you, too, could end up with 2 loaves of absolutely delicious banana bread and no self control to eat just one slice for breakfast.)

By searching on Pinterest (and after gawking at all the mouthwatering pictures), I found several recipes, most of which called for applesauce, or honey, or didn't lend themselves to becoming whole wheat. First, we didn't have any applesauce (so I planned on using plain nonfat Greek Yogurt, instead). Second, my honey stash was running low. Thirdly, I wanted this to be a breakfast type of bread, so the 'healthier,' the better. Finally, I settled upon the recipe found here, with a couple modifications of my own... 

This recipe was so easy, too! Mix the wet, add the dry, pour into the prepared pans, and bake! (Then stare at it until it cools enough to eat it.)

And finally, slice it up and eat it!! Its amazing!! It totally keeps it's "bread" shape (not too crumbly or cake-like), it's fantastic with peanut butter (and the extra crunchy honey peanut butter my daddy picked up...great find!), and toasted... words can't even describe it.  

So, search for that perfect whole wheat banana bread goodness no longer - and try this one! Eat it for breakfast, make it a snack, do it up sandwich-style, anything goes! (And then let me know how you like it!) And see how you can make it your own. Add that 'posh' and see what happens :)

With love (for food),

Ellen

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

Bagels - A beautiful (and delicious) transformation

A few months ago, I made my first attempt at homemade pumpkin bagels (from a Taste of Home recipe, of course). They were terrific! I love complicated, muti-step bread recipes - and these bagels became my 'precious' as I kneaded the dough, let them rest, shaped, boiled, and baked them. With this in mind, I wanted to keep myself occupied during my first summer vacation "weekday," as my parents returned to work. I was (innocently) searching the web for a whole wheat bagel recipe when I stumbled upon a blog called "Simple Bites." On it, was a recipe for none other than honey whole wheat bagels! I read through the author's background story on the bagels, how she'd make them with her sister on Friday nights to sell the next morning, and how good she claimed they were - and I had to make them. Plain and simple. So, Monday morning, that's exactly what I did!

First, thank you to Aimee at Simple Bites! This recipe was terrific and so much fun to make!

Second, the bagels! Bagels are... magical. A complete transformation! What begins as a bowl of goupy dough made of flour, salt, honey, yeast, and water, becomes a crunchy, warm, delicious bagel!? It's magic I tell you! Hopefully you, too, can see this transformation...

After letting the warm water and yeast mingle for about 10 minutes, I added it to the whole wheat flour-honey-salt mixture. At this point, I had given up on trying to find our dough hook attachment for the mixer...so I settled for the paddle attachment (I'm so ashamed - what kind of bagel maker uses a paddle attachment when the recipe calls for a dough hook!?) It seemed to work okay though, the bagels still came out delicious! So, I continued with the recipe (and my paddle attachment) and added the bread flour, then kneaded it for 8 minutes using a spoon, because the paddle thought it'd be cool to pick up all the dough and whip it around the bowl rather than knead it.. The photo below on the left is how it looked BEFORE covering it to let it rise..

And the photo above on the right is how much it rose during that hour! Let's take a moment to appreciate this transformation. In a little over an hour, a bowl of just a few ingredients became a beautiful dough, puffed up and ready to be formed into bagels!

Well, first it was rolled into balls. Using a sharp knife, I (carefully) cut the dough into quarters, then cut those each in half, and so forth. And somehow.. I ended up with 17...(obviously simple division was never my strong point). After letting these cute little balls of whole wheat goodness rest for a couple minutes, I shaped them into bagels!

(as if one picture weren't enough, here's 3)

Look at the transformation now! And we're not even done yet!! Next, these precious little delicacies had to be covered and left to rest for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the pans were prepared, I brought the water (with 1 TBS of sugar) to a boil, and the egg wash and toppings were ready.

Then I finally got to bake them!! 20 minutes in the oven later.. and they had completed their final transformation! Wasn't that amazing!? Let's just take a few everyday ingredients, mix 'em together, knead a little, etc and boosh! Bagels - what!?

Some of them were shaped a bit funky.. but I'm gonna call that artistic flair! (Just a splash of posh, on my end.) My brother was the first to try them - and they earned his stamp of approval, so you know they must be good! They have just enough settle sweetness, and toasted the next day, they are delicious! I sliced mine, toasted it, and topped it with almond butter for breakfast... AMAZING! Little Cooper thought so too.. (he's my cute puppy, below).

I highly recommend you try them! It may seem like a lot of steps for a 'bagel,' but I'm telling you - it's totally worth it! Plus, you know everything in it, (it's fun!), there's no added 'stuff,' and as always, you can put your own creative twist on it! 

Find the recipe and Aimee's story at http://www.simplebites.net/honey-whole-wheat-bagels-and-this-bakers-early-beginnings/ (Thanks again, Aimee!)

With love (for food),

Ellen

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