Recipe - No-Fail Bagels

2 Packets active dry yeast
One half cup Warm water (105115f)
2 teaspoon Sugar
2 cup Lukewarm water
2 One half teaspoon Salt
6 cup Bread flour
One half cup Yellow cornmeal

Place yeast in glass with One half cup warm water. Stir in sugar until yeast is
disolved. Let stand for 5 minutes, until foamy on top. Pour this mixture
into a bowl and add 2 cups lukewarm water. Stir in salt. Add the 5 One half cups
flour a cup at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon to blend after each
addition. Dough will be sticky.

Spread One fourth cup of the remaining flour on a work surface. Place dough on
flour. Place One fourth cup flour on top of the dough.

Begin kneading slowly until the flour comes together with the rest of the
dough. Knead vigorously for 15 minutes. You may have to add several
tablespoons of flour if the mixture is sticky.

Use a sharp knife dipped in flour cut the dough into 16 equal portions.
Roll each portion into a ball. Poke your thumbs through the center to make
a hole about the size of a quarter.

Spread One fourth cup cornmeal on each of two trays or cutting boards and place 8
formed bagels on each about 1 inch apart. Cover with a clean dish towel and
place in a warm draft free spot for 45 minutes to rise.

Remove towel and place trays of bagels in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Boil 3 cups water in a large pot. Spread 1/4
cup yellow cornmeal on 2 cookie sheets.

Place bagels four at a time into the boiling water. The perfect bagel
should sink to the bottom and rise immediatly. Boil about 4 minutes turning
about every 30 seconds. Don't worry if your bagels don't sink to the
bottom; however if they sink to the bottom and lie there, wait until they
flost to the top before timing the 4 minutes.

Remove bagels with a slotted spoon and place on a clean towel for a few
seconds to drain excess water. Place 8 bagels on each cookie sheet.

You can now add a favorite topping sesame, garlic or onion if desired. Bake
35 minutes or until golden. Remove bagels from cookie sheet and let them
cool on a wire rack. From: Gary Fricke