A little cream cheese and you've got breakfast or a snack on the go, some ham or tuna salad and you've got a delicious lunch or quick dinner. Egg sandwiches! Open-faced cheese and tomato rounds! Hummus and sprouts! Bagel pizzas! The list is endless!

Robert's Bread Machine Bagels

2 3/4 cups bread flour
3 cups water, divided use
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 (1/4-ounce) package quick rise yeast
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1. Put flour, 1 cup of the water, wheat flour, brown sugar, salt and yeast into a bread maker and set on dough cycle. Allow it to run until the end of the first rise, about 30 minutes.
2. Grease a cookie sheet; set aside.
3. Take dough out of bread maker and cut into 8 equal portions. Shape into bagels by forming balls and poking your finger through the middle. Place on the cookie sheet and allow to rise for 15 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 550°F (285°C).
5. Fill a skillet with about 2 inches of water (remaining 2 cups) and 2 tablespoons of sugar; bring to a boil. Place three or four bagels in boiling water for 30 seconds on each side. Drain on paper towel for about 1 minute. Repeat with remaining bagels.
6. Put a few ice cubes in a casserole dish and place it in the oven to create steam. Return bagels to cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Allow to cool on baking rack for 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 8 bagels.