A Bagel, A Bagel, My Kingdom for a Bagel - LOL

I haven't had any grain products or bread items for more than six weeks now, and I miss them, in some ways. I've never been a big bread eater, but there are times when a piece of bread or a bagel ... ooooh yeah! A bagel with schmeer and stuff - cream cheese and onion with lox, or just a berry spread and a blueberry bagel. Total yum!! But, as I said, I've had no grain for more than six weeks now. 

OK, mine did NOT look this good, but maybe my 
next batch will be better. I will have a much better 
idea of how to make it and getting it into the baking 
tray without as much mess. I have never piped 
before, and the instructions said to pipe. I'll 
get better. But mine were tasty, and that's what 
really counts. 

A friend on WildFit posted mini-bagels and a link to the recipe she used and I looked at the recipe and said to myself, "Self ... I want to make these!" So yesterday being my grocery store day, I hunted for the ingredients to make these little mini-bagels that weren't really a bagel, but that would suit me quite well. The base is creamed macadamia nuts - a cup of them in the food processor. To that was added several other ingredients including what was supposed to be a cup of coconut butter. 

Coconut oil is easy to find, and I have some 
in my pantry. Coconut butter is much more 
difficult. I'm hoping I can find some at 
Whole Foods. I tried Trader Joe's but they 
didn't have any, even if the website for 
Nutiva claimed they did. My local grocer 
at least had the Red Palm Shortening which 
is a coconut product, but I think the "butter" 
would be a bit better in the recipe. 

Coconut butter turned into an impossible product to find. In fact, it was so difficult that I finally settled for an alternative - Red Palm Shortening. I think Whole Foods might have the real coconut butter, and I'll check that out on Friday, but I used the shortening in the recipe this time and they turned out OK - rather yummy in fact. 

They may not look like much, but they were amazingly 
tasty and totally hit the spot. I used a donuts baking 
sheet (Silicone) that I bought at Target for under $16, 
and I'll be making this again - the second time WITH 
the coconut butter (ideally). 

As a plus, I had purchased a pound of grass-fed free-range cattle ground beef, so I took that, split it into eight small patties and fried them up. Two patties and two "bagels" made for a lovely lunch. I'm looking forward to taking a couple of "bagels" to the shop with me for today's lunch. It's funny how just one small thing can brighten a day. 

I hope your day today is lovely, filled with only good things. I urge you to look for the the small things that will make you happier - the sound of a fountain, the song of a bird, the curl of a leaf, or the laughter of a child. All these things and more are gifts we all too often take for granted. Today, take a moment to breathe deeply and appreciate these amazing gifts for your day. Please be kind, stay safe and wear your mask. I'll be back tomorrow.