Bagels

Hmm, I feel like having a snack. A nice toasted everything bagel with lox on it would be perfect.

But... there are no bagels left in the fridge! (I noted the chocolate bar and will be eating that later, however).

Ah well, this stinks! What am I gonna do? UGH! I was really looking forward to having a bagel.  *pouting* Maybe I'll just order something from UberEats...

Hey, what are you doing? What are you putting on my ---

*POOF!*

Excusez-moi, mon ami!

It is I, your friend and le boulanger Ajdin. It has been far too long since we last met in zee kitchen, non? Please forgive that slight hunger tantrum just now. It happens to the best of us, non?

Not to worry, my friends. We will be making fresh bagels from a recipe today. More delicious than the ones you buy from the store, that's for sure!

Today, we will have the help of this wonderful bread machine. How lovely it is to make fresh baked goods at home!

My assistant baker has measured out the ingredients and put them in the mixing container. It is a bit of flour, water, yeast, salt, and butter.

I will select the dough setting and then press zee magic button.

Yes, it is getting mixed very well!

We will let the dough rise and then shape it into bagels. Then we will let it rise some more. Isn't this exciting? Passionnant!

After 50 minutes, we will boil the bagels for 1 minutes per side. This pot is full of hot water - be careful!

The bagels are finished boiling and we have fished them out of the water. They are looking a little bigger and fluffier.

Now, we will sprinkle everything bagel seasoning on the bagels. Oui, it smells so good! And we will be generous with the seasoning on zee bagels.

Then we will bake the bagels until they are golden brown. Oui oui! Yes, there you are, you delicious and scrumptious bagels.

Well, there we have it, my friends! Some delicious and freshly made bagels. Please take one to enjoy and put your favorite topping on it.

Merci beaucoup for joining me in the kitchen today! Remember, when life tastes a bit sour, just sprinkle a little sugar on it! You - yes, you - can create something delicious! *chef's kiss*

Bon appétit!

Le Chef: Tarte Aux Myrtilles

Hey everyone, hope you had a great New Year! Happy 2022! It's gonna be a terrific year, I just know it!

Hey, what's this?

I picked it up. It looks like a hat of some sort.

I wonder if it fits me. I'll put it on.

Oh, it's a chef's hat - and it fits perfectly! That would be neat if I had a chef outfit to go along with ---

POOF!!

Sacré bleu!

Do you see this? Suddenly I am dressed as a chef (love the kerchief) and I am even wearing matching checkered pants. Normally I would take off my pants, but I feel like I should keep them on in the kitchen.

I also cannot stop speaking in a French accent.

And I have an uncontrollable urge to... to... to MAKE SOMETHING DELICIOUS! Let's do it!

We have a large box of blueberries here that we don't want to go bad. No, that would be terrible! We waste nothing in this kitchen!

So we will make a tarte aux myrtilles with them - that's blueberry pie! I will start with the crust.

The crust should be flaky and buttery. I will add flour, butter, sugar and salt together.

We could buy a ready made crust, but that would be cheating. I am a real chef, you know.

Then I will knead the dough into 2 round discs and put them in the refrigerator to chill for one hour.

And while the dough is chilling, I will take a quick nap.

ONE HOUR LATER...

Hello! We are back and I am rolling out the chilled dough.

We will roll it out nice and thin so it fits our pie pan.

And now for the filling. You were looking forward to this part, weren't you?

I will add sugar, cinnamon, lemon zest, and corn starch in a bowl.

Then I will add in the blueberries.

Next, I will gently pour the filling into the bottom pie crust.

Now for the top crust. Today, we will be making a lattice style pie crust. What did you say? You have never made a lattice pie crust before? Well, today is your lucky day.

We will place our first layer of strips gently over the filling like so.

Then we weave another layer perpendicular to the first layer.

Now let's make the crust shiny with a light egg wash.

We'll set the timer and put our masterpiece into the oven. The hardest part is waiting for it to be done, isn't it?

But good things come to those who wait. There it is - isn't it beautiful?

I will cut the first slice.

And you - my guest - please have the first taste!

How was it?

Oh, wonderful!

Thank you for joining me, Chef Ajdin, in my kitchen today! Be fearless in the kitchen, and always remember that life is delicious! *chef's kiss*

Recipe link below:

https://www.inspiredtaste.net/23159/homemade-blueberry-pie-recipe/

Apple pie

Hey everyone, how's your 2020 going so far? My goal is to blog a bit more this year! We'll see how that goes... and to find a secretary who is actually worth his or her salt.

Oh, what's this? A mini apple pie?

It's the perfect size for me!

Hey, this looks really beary good. Would you like to have a bite? Here... open wide...

How was it? Good?

Ninjabread Cookies

Hello everyone.  It seems that I have been in a bit of a baking mood lately.  Today I am going to try this special cookie mix that I received from Christmas.  It is a mix for Ninjabread Cookies.  I have never tried Ninjabread before so I am beary curious.  Let's see what's inside this box.

There is a packet of cookie mix, frosting mix, a piping bag, candy decorations and ninja cookie cutters.  So let's get started, why don't we?

I am pleased to tell you that this recipe calls for some honey.  It will be a beary delicious cookie - I know this for a fact.

I added the honey to the cookie mix in a large bowl.

Then I formed a large ball with the dough.  It was fun to get my paws in there.  I put the dough in the refrigerator to cool for 30 minutes.

I rolled out the dough into a thin sheet then used the ninja cookie cutters to cut out shapes.  They went into the oven for about 9 minutes.  When they came out, they were a nice golden brown color.  I mixed the frosting and put it into a frosting piping bag.

These were fun to decorate with the candy!  I had a little extra cookie dough leftover so I made a special cookie.  Can you see what it is?

Here are some closeups of the ninjabread cookies!  HIIII-YA!!!