Bagels and Gravalox

 This week I got adventurous with my baking (and cooking) and wanted to make a true NYC breakfast. And I have to say... I didn't blow it! The bagels could've been cooked a bit less and the gravalox with a bit less pepper but, not bad for my first rodeo!

Bagels and Gravalox

(Original recipes)

BAGEL RECIPE

Yields: 6

Prep Time: 24 hours

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 day 1 hour

Ingredients:

DOUGH

1 1/8 cups lukewarm water

1 tbsp barley malt syrup 

1 1/8 tsp active dry yeast (1/2 packet)

3 1/4 cups bread flour

1 tbsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt OR 1/2 tbsp Morton kosher salt

Neutral oil

ASSEMBLY: 

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 cup barley malt syrup (plus more as needed)

Toppings (if desired)

Directions:

1. Pour 1/4 cup luke warm water into a small bowl. Whisk in barley malt syrup and yeast until both dissolve. Let sit until mixture foams (about 5 minutes) 

2. In a large bowl, combine bread flour and salt.

3.  Make a well in the center and pour in yeast mixture and remaining water. Mix. (The dough should be shaggy)

4. Knead the mixture in the bowl several times then turn onto a clean work surface, kneading for about 15-20 minutes until you have a stiff but very smooth dough

5. Gather dough into a ball, lightly dust with flour, and put in a large clean bowl with seam side down. Cover with a damp towel and let the dough rise until it has doubled, about 2 hours.

5. Lightly punch dough down to knock out the air. 

6. Cut the dough into 6 equal pieces

7. Preshape the bagels into tight balls. Then gather one ball at a time, pinching irregular edges into tear drop shape. Then cup your hand down and over the top in a loose grip, moving your hand in a circular motion dragging the dough across the surface until it has a high tight dome.

8. Repeat with all pieces then cover with a damp towel and let rest for 5 minutes.

9. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush with oil then set aside.

10. One piece at a time, roll out a ball into a 9 inch rope. Then wrap the rope around one hand and seal the ends together. Slip the ring of dough off your hand and stretch to even out thickness, until you have a ring that measures about 4". Then add to sheet. 

11. Once all are shaped, cover baking sheet with plastic and damp towel then put in the refrigerator to chill 4-24 hours.

12. 2 hours before you want to serve the bagels, preheat oven to 450. 

13. Fill large Dutch oven halfway with water and set a wire rack next to it. 

14. Prep bagel toppings in a plate on the side. 

15. Remove baking sheet from the refrigerator. Fill a small bowl of room temperature water and put a ring into the bowl. If the ring floats, it is ready to be boiled and baked. If it sinks, dry it off and let the rings sit for about 30 minutes and then check again. 

16. Set Dutch oven over high heat and bring to a boil. Whisk in baking soda and barley malt syrup. (You want the water to look like a strong black tea. Add more syrup until it does.) 

17. Bring to boil and skim any foam off the surface. Then maintain a gentle boil.

18. Add bagels into the Dutch oven (as many that will fit)

19. Boil for 1 minute, turning halfway through.

20. Transfer to wire rack then add topping, if using.

21. Remove parchment from baking sheet and put bagels on sheet.

22. Bake 20-25 minutes, rotating the sheet after 12 minutes.

23. Enjoy!

GRAVALOX 

Yields: 1 filet (1 lb)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time/Cure Time: 5 days

Total Time: 5 days 10 minutes

Ingredients: 

1lb salmon filet

1/4 cup kosher salt

1/4 cup sugar

1/8 cup black pepper

1 bunch dill (about 1 cup)

Directions: 

1. Lay salmon skin side down in a baking dish.

2. In a small bowl, combine salt sugar and pepper. 

3. Put mixture oven salmon evenly until fully covered as if under a blanket of snow (use it all).

4. Spread dill on top to make a thick grassy carpet.

5. Lay plastic wrap or parchment over salmon to cover and press down. Then place a heavy weight on top. 

6. Refrigerate without disturbing for 5 days, except turn salmon over midway through the cure (Day 3).

7. Remove salmon from cure (which has now become liquid), brush off dill, and set on cutting board.

8. With a knife, slice tilted at an angle, stopping short of cutting though the skin and starting a few inches from the tail. Then run your knife between the skin and flesh to release. Transfer to parchment until ready to serve. 

9. Enjoy!

 

Ginger Stout Cake

  I decided to continue with my ginger molasses theme this week and get some stout to make a cake. Unfortunately though my mom didn't have a bundt pan so I settled for this slightly strange giant donut-esque pan. Still delicious.

 

Ginger Stout Cake

(original recipe here)

Total Time: 1 1/2 hours

Yields: 1 cake

Ingredients: 

2 tbsp unsalted butter (softened)

1/2 cup raw Demarara sugar ( I used granulated sugar and honestly, I think you should use the raw)

1 cup stout (I used Murphy's Stout - cheap and generic. You won't use all the stout in a bottle though so, choose one you like or can reuse in things)

1 cup molasses (Helpful hint: Spray the measuring cup with pam before you put the molasses in and it's way easier to get out!) 

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 cups flour

1 tbsp ground ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp all spice

1/4 tsp alt

3 tbsp grated fresh ginger

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup oil 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Grease a bundt pan with softened butter and coat pan with raw sugar so it sticks

3. Add stout and molasses to a medium saucepan and bring to simmer. Then remove from heat and carefully whisk in baking soda. Let cool. (The stout will bubble up)

4. Mix together flour, ground spices, pepper, and salt. Set aside.

5. Mix fresh ginger, vanilla, brown sugar, and sugar (with mixer, if you have one for 5 minutes on medium) 

6. Add oil (mixer on low for 5 minutes)

7. Add stout mixture and mix for another 5 minutes

8. Add dry ingredients in two parts mixing well between them.

9. Add batter to prepare pan and bake 55-65 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

10. Let cake cool 15 minutes then flip upside down to release.

11.  Enjoy!

Ginger Molasses Cookies

 This recipe gives just the right amount of crunch and chewiness, taste of molasses and ginger all in one. It's like gingerbread and a molasses cookie combined. Yum!

Ginger Molasses Cookies

(original recipe) 

Makes: ~36 

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: ~15 minutes/tray

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1 tbsp ground ginger

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp all spice

1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks, room temperature)

3/4 cup molasses

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup coarse sugar (for rolling)

Directions: 

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and all spice.

2. In another bowl, beat butter, molasses, and sugar until the mixture is super light, fluffy, and pale. Then add eggs (1 at a time) beating well after each addition. Add vanilla.

3. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix

4. Refrigerate dough for 30-45 minutes (until it's firm enough to roll).

5. Preheat oven to 325

6. Roll dough into tablespoons and then into the sugar. If dough becomes too soft again, put in the refrigerator for a bit (10-15 mins). 

7. Put balls onto parchment lined or greased baking tray 2" apart and bake until cookies are golden brown and tops spring back slightly when touched, about 12-15 minutes (I found 14 minutes was the sweet spot!) 

8. Enjoy!

Inside Out Cookies

 I've done a bunch of chocolate chip cookies recently (a solid go-to) so I decided to try something new. These are definitely good but, not absolutely incredible! They have a nice chocolatey taste and aren't overly sweet though which I love.

Inside Out Cookies

(original recipe) 

Makes: 2 dozen

Prep Time: 3 hours (incl. cooling) 

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup + 2 tsp cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1 tbsp milk

1 1/4 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars until fluffy. Then add egg and vanilla.

2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. 

3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients (the dough will be very thick). 

4. Beat in milk and then mix in chocolate chips (the dough will be sticky).

5. Cover tightly and chill for 3 hours - 3 days.

6. Remove from fridge and allow to sit at room temperature 10 - 20 minutes

7. Preheat oven to 350 

8. Scoop and roll dough into balls and cook 11 minutes.

9. Enjoy!

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

 This does require a donut tray if you want them to be a nice cute shape but, you could also use a muffin tray if not. This is a great way to use up leftover apple cider!

Apple Cider Donuts

Makes: 24 small donuts or muffins

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

Non stick cooking spray

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup apple cider

Directions: 

1. Heat oven to 350 and lightly grease trays. In a medium bowl, add flour, baking powder, salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, and nutmeg. 

2. In another bowl, cream 10 tbsp butter, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup sugar until fluffy then add eggs and vanilla. 

3. Add flour mixture until incorporated. 

4. Add apple cider.

5. Spoon batter into prepared donut pans or muffin tins. Fill them about 2/3 of the way and no need to smooth the top! (I did this with a plastic bag cut on the corner to pipe in.) 

6. Bake 15-20 minutes

7. While the donuts bake, whisk remaining sugar (1/2 cup) and cinnamon (1 tsp) together and melt 6 tbsp butter.

8. Let the donuts cool for 5 minutes then brush with melted butter and cover with cinnamon sugar.

9. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Roll with Caramel Coffee Cream

I had never made a rolled cake before so, figured what better excuse than quarantine and honestly, it turned out super well. 

Pumpkin Roll with Caramel Coffee Cream

Link here

Total Time: 3 hours (with cooling)

Ingredients:

Cake - 

Unsalted butter for greasing

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup pumpkin puree

3 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

powdered sugar for dusting

Filling - 

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 tbsp butter

2 tsp finely ground coffee

8 ounces cream cheese

1/4 cup powdered sugar

Assembly - 

1/2 cup heavy cream

powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350. Butter baking sheet, add parchment paper, and then butter parchment

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin purée, eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, whisking gently if needed to eliminate any lumps.

3. Spread the batter onto the prepared sheet in an even layer. (It's so thin!) Bake until the cake is puffed, set and springs back when pressed gently in the center, about 15 minutes.

4. Put clean towel on work surface and dust with powdered sugar.

5. Carefully remove cake from oven and put onto the towel. Roll from the short edge into a spiral, taking care not to compress it and then move it to a rack to cool.

5. After the cake is cooling, make the filling: Add 1 tablespoon water to a small saucepan. Add the granulated sugar and bring to a simmer, without stirring, over medium-high heat. Once the sugar starts to turn amber in spots, swirl the pan to help the sugar cook evenly. Continue to cook the sugar mixture, swirling occasionally, until it turns a deep amber color, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove it from the heat and immediately stir in the cream, butter and ground coffee. (Be careful, as the mixture will steam and bubble.)

6. Cook for another minute or two over medium heat, stirring until the mixture is smooth and creamy, then carefully pour it into a bowl.  Let the caramel cool for a few minutes but don’t let it cool completely, as it will harden.

7. Add cream cheese a few pieces at a time until all is incorporated. Then transfer to a smaller bowl and cool completely (about 1 hour).

8. When you're ready to assemble, whip 1/2 cup heavy cream to a stiff peak and mix into the cream cheese mixture.

9. Carefully unroll the care and spread filling evenly over the cake. Then roll it back up without the dish towel. Trim about 1 inch from each end and transfer to a serving plate. Sprinkle with powdered sugar

10. Enjoy!

 

English Muffins

 So I figured I would try something a bit more tricky. Though I had to make augmentations for the high altitude, they still worked well - augments not listed below.  Honestly though, just buy them at the store!

Whole Wheat English Muffins

(original recipe here)

Makes: 6 

Prep Time: 2 hours (incl. rising)

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 minutes

Ingredients: 

2 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)

4 tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup warm whole milk

1/2 tbsp honey

1 tsp salt

1 cup WW flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

cornmeal

Directions:

1. Combine yeast and 1/3 cup warm water until yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes

2. Melt 2 tbsp butter and put in large bowl. Whisk in yogurt, milk, honey, salt, and yeast mixture.

3. Add flours and baking soda to bowl and beat thoroughly. Then cover bowl and let sit to rest 1-1 1/2 hours or until dough is doubled.

4. Heat oven to 350 and dust baking sheet with cornmeal.

5. Heat skillet and melt 1 tbsp butter. Using a scoop, drop batter into skillets to form muffins (about 4 inches in diameter) creating 3 in a pan. 

6. Reduce heat to low and cover skillet, cooking for 3-5 minutes or until bottoms are golden brown.

7. Uncover skillet and flip muffins. Then cover again and cook 2-4 minutes.

8. Put muffins on baking sheet and repeat with remaining batter.

9. Once all are completed, bake 6-9 minutes or until puffed and cooked through.

10. Enjoy!

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