Pumpkin Spice Bagels

I made these bagels last weekend and I was so happy with the recipe! YUM! I will say though, only make as many as you will eat the day you make them, because they will be a little tough the next day.

Pumpkin Spice Bagels
(Makes 8 bagels)

2/3 cup warm water (around 80 F)
2 1/4 tsp yeast
1/2 cup pumpkin puree (you could make it fresh, or use canned, but be sure NOT to get pumpkin pie mix. You could also substitute mashed sweet potato)
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp all spice
3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda
2 T water
1 egg white

1. Pour warm water in bowl of mixer and sprinkle in yeast. Allow yeast to proof for about 3-5 minutes (water will look cloudy).
2. Add the brown sugar, salt, pumpkin and the spices to the water and yeast. Stir to combine.
3. Add flour to wet ingredients. Fit the mixer with the dough hook. Turn on mixer and mix/knead for about 7 minutes. (You could mix together and then knead by hand).
4. Place dough into a bowl that has been prepared with cooking spray and cover bowl with clean towe. Allow to rise about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
5. Divide dough into portions (probably about 8). Roll the dough portion into a ball. Flatten the ball slightly and then poke a hole through the center with your finger. Shape into bagel shape and place on a floured pan. Cover with the plastic wrap allow to rest for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, place pan into refrigerator overnight.
6. When ready to cook, remove the pan from the refrigerator and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring large pot of water to a boil. Add in 1 tsp of baking soda to boiling water.
7. Preheat oven to 400 F.
8. Drop bagels into boiling water (don't overcrowd the pot) and allow to boil about 30-45 seconds per side (flip after 30 seconds). Remove from water and allow to dry slightly on a clean towel. The original recipe recommends dipping the bottom of the bagels into cornmeal. I didn't have any, and my bagels stuck pretty bad, so I would recommend using it. Place bagels onto baking sheet.
9. In a small bowl, mix water and egg white. Brush tops of bagels with egg wash.
10. Bake bagels at 400 F for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Twice Baked Sweet Potato

I LOVE sweet potato pie. Obviously, though, it doesn't make the most healthy side dish. I have tried my hand at eating a baked sweet potato plain...blah. I tried baking it, cutting it open and putting butter, cinnamon, marshmallow, etc. This makes it yummy, but only on the cut edges. When you get to the middle, it is plain again. I had this problem....until.....Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes were born. So yummy! Its like a healthy sweet potato pie that you can eat as a pretty healthy side dish.

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

2 medium sweet potatoes
2 tsp butter/margarine- I used honey butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2-4 Tbsp milk
Salt to taste
Mini marshmallows

1. Bake sweet potatoes until tender (I made mine in the microwave)
2. Cut sweet potato in half and scoop out flesh. Be sure to leave skin intact and reserve. Put flesh into a bowl and mash.
3. Add butter, cinnamon, salt and milk (use enough milk so it is the consistency of moist mashed potatoes). Put mixture back into skin.
4. Top with mini marshmallows.
5. Place back in oven and bake until warmed through and the marshmallows are toasty.