bagel mondays!

my friend has been learning how to bake at a local bakery. last week she brought in a big bag of freshly baked bagels to share and i just about cried with happiness. they are delicious and are cooked the real new york style (boiled). i enjoy it slightly toasted and with a little pad of butter smeared evenly on top. i thought it was a one time thing but then she came in this monday with a bag of bagels and declared every monday "bagel monday!" which i have to say is some of the best news i have heard in awhile. she says that they boil the bagels in lye which she said initially made her nervous because the tub of lye had skulls and crossbones and POISONOUS all over the tub but apparently that's standard and they only use itty bitty amounts so it's cool. it's supposed to help with the browning or something.

apparently thursdays are "sourdough thursday!" so that's something to look forward to for tomorrow. i already have plans to toast it and put some strawberry jam on top. there's something really lovely about doing productive things with your hands; her five bagels brought so much happiness! i saw her leisurely flipping through a giant picture book about artisan bread making and felt deeply jealous, then skulked back to my cubicle and stared at an outline.