Bagels or Donuts? Happy Hole-e-days!

Several weeks ago, the kiddo had a lesson about essay writing. It was introduced through a narrative that compares and contrasts bagels and donuts. Expectedly, he requested that we make these breads. I, honestly, am not a fan of donuts because I find them too sweet most of the time — yes, even the honey glazed ones. Thus, I told the kiddo that we would bake bagels first. 

I used to help my Nanay cook and sell donuts when I was young. It was the type what was simple and is rolled on or sprinkled with white sugar. On the other hand, I was only introduced to bagels in recent years. I occasionally buy bagels at a coffee shop and I always find them fascinating, especially the perfectly shaped ones. I like the seeded or nutty variant paired with cream cheese. Thus, I must try baking bagels even once. 

For a first timer, I learned that baking bagels consists of several yet simple steps — preparing the dough, shaping, warm water bathing, flavoring, and baking. I found the shaping part the most challenging since the dough was so sticky. I also liked the part when I had to ‘roll’ them on nuts and seeds. The plain and flavored ones were equally delicious. The kiddo had one of each in just a sitting. I was so happy with the result and told myself that I would do this again. 

I had been very busy these past two months. I wanted to do a lot but felt like there was too little time. I used to have a weekly blog but now I could barely afford to write once a month. Although I can still work in my little kitchen trying new recipes and retrying old ones, I no longer have the luxury of time to write kitchen stories on a weekly basis. Busy work schedule coupled with Mommy duties always get in the way of my writing attempts. Nonetheless, writing about my kitchen tales still gives me the same happiness no matter how less frequent it has become lately.  The past several weeks, I was able to cook and bake many of the family favorites with bonus trial dishes for some friends. Truly, it is always an awesome feeling to serve food with much love.

A couple of months ago, the kiddo was requesting that I make Napoleon pastry. However, I was too busy to do so. Until one day, he showed me his DIY Napoleon using his snacks of crackers and avocado. The following weekend, I made him a cream and chocolate Napoleon.

Other desserts that the kiddo requested (and to which I gave in) were mango crepe, Maritozzi with a twist (copied from the video of his favorite chef), Medovik Russian honey cake with mango puree, and pistachio Sans rival.

Some of the breads that I was able to bake in several weekends included garlic cheese breads, ube halaya flavored breads, burger buns, and French bread.

Savory dishes like salted egg pork and shrimp, pork binagoongan, beef short ribs kare-kare, and pork burger steak with mushroom sauce had also become highlights of some of our weekends. Other bonus dishes included bread bowl and pumpkin bowl soups, creamy salmon pasta carbonara, pesto pasta, chicken alfredo pasta, smoked salmon pizza, and tuna veggie salad.

Other desserts I made for the family but was also able to gift friends with included chocolate chip cookies, cheese tarts, banana-fruit-and-nut bread, and ube cheese halaya.

Besides the classic burnt Basque cheesecake, which is one of our kitchen regulars, I also experimented on a lot of other cheesecake flavors in the past couple of months. These included flavors and/or toppings like blueberry, strawberry, mango, ube cheese halaya, cookies and cream, and dark chocolate, among others. The mango cheesecake was really special as I used the mangoes I bought from my recent trip to Guimaras Province. The mangoes, despite no longer in season, were so sweet and delicious. I regretted that I did not buy a lot though.

Whether Christmas season or not, I sometimes treat myself with a cheese board. A regular treat and breather, however, is time spent baking sourdough bread. Lately, I am trying to incorporate seeds and nuts in my sourdough breads. They’re lovely!

These have been my weekend happiness. I am grateful.

A blessed Christmas to all! 😀