Pumpkin bagels

It's time for pumpkin again! I had been buying organic pie pumpkins at Whole Foods for around $2 per pound, then we found the oranic local pie pumpkins at our local farmers market for $2 per pumpkin. That's about $4 cheaper per squash. That means I'll be baking, squishing, condensing, and freezing pumpkin for the rest of the the season. Jon is looking forward to all the recipes we'll be rehashing and trying, and this week we started with pumpkin bagels, a first.

Pumpkin bagels
original recipe from Healthy Cooking Magazine

Yield: 9 bagels
Prep Time:  min. + standing
Cooking Time: 15 min.

Ingredients:
  ● 2/3 cup warm water (100-120 degrees)
  ● 1/2 tbsp active dry yeast
  ● 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  ● 3 cups bread flour
  ● 1 tsp. salt
  ● 1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  ● 3/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
  ● 1/2 tsp. ground allspice
  ● 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
  ● 1/2 cup pumpkin, room temperature
  ● 1 egg white, cut with ~2 tbsp water
  ● 1 tbsp. cornmeal

Directions:
Combine water and sugar. Let stand until foaming, about 8 minutes.

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and spices. Mix well. Add yeast mixture and pumpkin and mix well, adding remaining flour until dough is of kneading consistency (or until dough forms a ball on dough hook and cleans sides of bowl). Knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Cover and place in a warm, draft free place and allow to rise for ~1 hour, or until it doubles in size.

Remove dough from bowl and shape into nine balls. Push thumb through centers to form a 1-in. hole. Stretch and shape dough to form an even ring. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.

Fill a pot two-thirds full with water; bring to a boil. Drop bagels, two at a time, into boiling water. Cook for 45 seconds; turn and cook 45 seconds longer. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.

Whisk egg white and 2 tbsps water; brush over bagels. Coat a baking sheet with oil and sprinkle with cornmeal. Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 9 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 bagel equals 180 calories, trace fat (trace saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 273 mg sodium, 40 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 6 g protein.