I am not a baker or a cook. In fact, 90% of the meals made in my apartment are the work of my boyfriend. I’d probably be eating Kraft mac and cheese every other night if it weren’t for him. However, it’s not that I dislike cooking, it’s just that I’m lazy. I’d rather be editing photos, watching tv, reading a book, etc. instead of cooking. I consider a plate of fruit, veggies, cheese, a hunk of bread, and some fresh hummus the best dinner because it involves no cooking whatsoever.
The COVID-19 quarantine situation has been challenging in many different ways for everyone. Personally, I’ve been trying to limit my screen time after work hours and make sure I’m doing one thing each day that involves fresh air. Do I stick to it every day? Absolutely not. However, most days I’ve been pretty creative with my non-screen time activities. Such as yesterday when I - drum roll please - made homemade bagels using a recipe from SkinnyTaste!
Additionally, as a photographer, I had been itching to do a photoshoot of something, anything! Many of my scheduled events were cancelled for the season and my poor Sony camera hadn’t been held in much too long. So logically, I turned the entire baking ordeal into a photoshoot. The SkinnyTaste cookbook was the main star of the show, featuring Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.
A little bit about SkinnyTaste: Gina Homolka is the genius behind the easiest bagel recipe you’ll ever read. Literally it’s just 5 ingredients: flour, Greek yogurt, egg white, baking powder, and salt. I originally found her on Instagram, looking for recipes that were lactose-free and easy to make. Her site is full of recipes that are low calorie and dietary-restriction friendly. I love her recipes because many of them are everyone’s favorite indulgences, but with a deceivingly healthy twist. Case in point: visit her website here, search “mac n cheese,” and you’ll start drooling from the pictures alone.
These bagels are soft on the inside with a thin crunch on the outside, and they are delicious. Trust me - I made a double batch and we have devoured over half of them in less than 24 hours. Top them with the Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend like I did, or add your own toppings. Last time I made these, I only had blueberry Greek yogurt and inadvertently made blueberry bagels. Best risk I’ve ever taken.
To make your own bagels during quarantine, check out the infamous recipe here. And to see the full photoshoot, check out my digital album here.