Jerusalem Bagels

Verbatim from the http://www.breadmantalking.blogspot.com/ delicious

• Ready In: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 8
• Yields: 8 Bagels

Ingredients

• 4 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 1⁄2 tablespoons sugar
• 2  tablespoons powdered milk
• 1  tablespoon dry yeast
• 1 1⁄2 cups warm water
• 3  tablespoons  oil (olive oil is good but optional)
• 1  teaspoon salt

Directions

1. 1.)Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl of an electric mixer with a dough hook until it comes together into a 'shaggy' dough. Then mix at medium speed for about 7 minutes until the dough is smooth and a little shiny.
2. 2.) Place it in a lightly-oiled bowl, turn to coat, then cover and let it rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
3. 3.) Divide the dough into 6 or 8 pieces (depending on the size of the bagels). Then flatten each piece. Punch a hole in the middle using you thumb, then stretch the dough (careful not to tear it) into an elongated oval bagel shape.
4. 4.)Place each bagel on a parchment lined baking tray. Cover and let rise a second time, this time for about 20 minutes.
5. 5.)Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Before baking, brush each bagel with egg diluted in water then sprinkle heavily with sesame seeds mixed with sugar and salt (2 Tbs sugar + 1 Tbs salt + 3 Tbs. sesame seeds).
6. 6.)Bake for 15 minutes until they are a rich golden brown and crispy. Cool on a rack and serve with za'atar and olive oil. Yum!