In search of crispy and crunchy

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 Bagels!  I used to love them! Chewy and fresh from the bagel shop and topped with butter and cheese or lox and cream cheese…. Maybe even a strawberry cream cheese!

Then came the packaged ones… 

They were okay and I certainly bought and consumed my share but they were never very satisfying.

Back in the day, my dad (and all 3 brothers) baked bread … really good bread. Wonderful taste and texture and like all of the best bakery bread it had to be eaten fresh to really enjoy it properly! 

We used to talk about Wonder bread and call it glue. It was soft as promised in the ads, it lasted on the counter for a long time so it was popular.  It also stuck to the roof of your mouth like glue!  Nasty stuff for the baker and his family. It killed the local bakery shops! It was easily available in the grocery store and it was cheaper to buy.  ( I fail to understand that in economic terms because I remember selling 1 lb loaves at 3 for $1.)

Then came the large grocery chains.  All bakery products are supposed  ‘to last’ or have a decent shelf life and bakery industry has found a way to do that… unfortunately, I think!  It all tastes the same, it all has the same mouth feel and often it all smells the same. 

It’s been that way for a very long time. I don’t think the times are changing but if you look for it, you can find it. 

I bought a package of 6 large bagels but I should not have done that. No taste, no chew and no crunch when toasted! 

 That’s where you discover the huge difference.

 I bought 6 beautiful large bagels at a local bagel shop. They were tasty, smelled great and had a wonderful chewy texture! I was in heaven! The best part was that they were crunchy and crispy when toasted!

Again- that’s where you discover the huge difference! 

I have also discovered the joys of really good sourdough bread… not the grocery store kind but the bakery kind.  I love biting into the crunch of it toasted and the chew and smell of it when it comes right of the paper bakery bag! 

In my search and against my naysayer son , I made some delicious crispy oven fried chicken wings! More about that later.


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