National Bagel Day - Recipes

 Time to get Schmeared on National Bagel Day!

I never had a Bagel when I lived in Louisiana and Texas as a youth, but now you can get them there in almost any coffee shop, fast food joint, and larger grocery stores. 

Bagels are boiled and then baked to create a crunchy surface and chewy interior. They go back to the 17 century in Jewish communities of Poland.

My wife, Linda, grew up a half-hour from New York City, the capital of Bagels. I got a crash course there when we visited her family. 

I never realized the different types of Bagels out there. Just look at the list from a NYC Bagel shop called Ess-a-Bagel. Can't say I really have a favorite, but I do lean toward an Onion Bagel.

A Bagel I had no idea about is the Everything Bagel, like, what makes it "Everything?" Well, I found "Everything" can come in a plastic shaker at the Dollar Tree for $1.25.

Reading the ingredients list, it comprises poppy and sesame seeds plus other dried seasonings like salt, garlic, and onion. I guess you can make anything "Everything" with this shaker, Hmmm...Everything Scrambled Eggs, Everything Pasta, and Everything Tacos?

Check out our breakfast video below at Ess-a-Bagel restaurant in NYC, where they are baked on the premises and serving a dozen varieties of amazing Bagel Sandwiches!

Ess-a-Bagel - Movie

I do love a toasted Bagel in the morning, usually as a sandwich with a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Also, you should try my simple breakfast recipe of Scrambled Eggs & Caramelized Onions served on a slice of toasted Bagel. A Bagel for breakfast gets the job done to get you out the door...or at least out of bed.

A classic Bagel preparation is slathering Cream Cheese on a toasted Bagel. Philadelphia Cream Cheese is the best, but I've tried cheaper Cream Cheese Blends to use in a pinch.

I prefer Bagel and Cream Cheese with a slice of onion and a fat slice of tomato. Nothing to it really as my video below will show.

In past film commercial shoots, the Non-kosher Cameraman /Chef was quick to line up for a catered breakfast, going past the multitude of sugary pastry confections and heading straight for Bagels, Cream Cheese, Lox (cured salmon), sliced red onion, and tomato to build a Jewish deli kosher classic. 

You should click here to see my Homemade Lox recipe. It's really easy to do, just coat a thick slice of raw salmon in equal parts of sugar and salt, wrap in plastic, or seal in a glass container, and let it cure in the refrigerator for a couple of days (unwrap and drain liquid during curing). Finally, rinse and pat dry, that's it.

Now, Lox (mildly brined, cold-cured raw salmon) is too expensive for this Chintzy Chef, but canned, or soft-packaged cooked salmon is a fine, inexpensive substitute for a Homemade Salmon Schmear (original blog post recipe is here.) 

Some Cream Cheese comes mixed with Salmon. They are carrying Vegan Cream Cheese these days.

Drain and fold cooked salmon into room-temperature softened cream cheese, lightly mix, and you have a spreadable feast - a Cheap$kate Salmon Schmear.

Here's my cheap$kate Salmon Schmear video below. I use salmon from the can or soft pack. Drain and blend it with room-temperature cream cheese. It couldn't be easier or cheaper to do.

My latest favorite Smear is Boiled Egg with Cream Cheese. While the cream cheese softens on the kitchen counter, boil one or two eggs. Peel, chop, and mix boiled egg into the cream cheese. I keep the egg chunky. Serve on a toasted Bagel.

Bagels still turn up in the bread bargain bin of Ralphs Supermarket, and Dollar Tree has them from time to time.

A Salmon Schmear is also a delicious party dip, just set out your preferred cracker, pita, or toasted wedges of Bagel. This kosher morning starter is a Chef's favorite; right up there with McDonald's decidedly non-kosher sausage and egg, syrup-filled pancake sandwich "McGriddle".

Ingredients (serves 2 - 4)

• 8 oz. package of cream cheese (Philadelphia Cream Cheese is kosher)
• 3 oz. small package or can of cooked salmon (Pillar Rock salmon brand is kosher)
• Sliced tomato and onion (preferably red onion - for this recipe, I used a yellow onion.)
• 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice (optional).
• Bagels

Directions

Allow cream cheese to reach room temperature. Drain the salmon and mix it into the cream cheese. You can use less cream cheese for a fishier version.

Add a teaspoon of lemon or lime juice. Mix lightly for a chunky spread.

Toast a bagel, then add Salmon Schmear with tomato and sliced onion.

Blueberry Bagels are somewhat controversial. I like them, but Linda despises them - won't go near them.

Hey, we have to agree to disagree - I like anything with Blueberries. I like Blueberry Bagels toasted with a smear of butter.

Baseball World Series Recipes - L.A. Dodgers vs N.Y. Yankees

 It's East Coast vs. West Coast for the 2024 Baseball World Series, and I have a full dugout of tasty recipes to keep fans cheering from the comfort of the couch!!

Batter up! And that's just the coating for my MVP Fried Chicken recipe. Are you ready for the World Series of cheap$kate eats? Just step up to the plate with your remote and allow me to pitch some tasty entrees your way, that you can serve up while viewing the Los Angeles Dodgers battle the New York Yankees.

Mr. & Mrs. 99 plus friend.

The Penny Pinch-Hitting Chef will leave enough green in your wallet to buy an extra keg of beer for your tailgate party. Just click on any recipe name to see what I mean. There are no foul balls in this recipe list!

First at-bat, Hot Dogs are the King of the ballpark. And boy does this Knight of the Round Dinner Table have royal recipes for you to try...all hail the Winners, I mean the Wieners!!

I live in L.A., so you know who I'll be rooting for...Go Dodgers! And if you're a fan too, then give my most outrageous  LA Street Dog a go. The roots are South-of-the-Border with Fajita-style grilled onion,  bell pepper, and jalapeno toppings. It's outrageously delicious, so go for it like I do in the video below.

If you're like me, game day is the time for Hot Dogs, and boy, are the ingredients cheap. This year, I've been getting hot dogs, buns, mustard, and sweet pickle relish from my local Dollar Tree.

New York Yankee fans know Hot Dogs. I first bought the Coney Island classic, Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs, from the frozen deli case at my local Dollar Tree.

I microwaved it, then added mustard and sweet pickle relish. Check out my review by clicking here.

I don't know about you, but I steam mine - you can't burn or even overcook frankfurters this way, especially when your team is loading up the bases and you can't pull yourself away from the TV screen.

At Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, fans line up for a Dodger Dog. This year they cost $7.99 each. They are extra long, about 9 inches, and come with grill marks. There are condiment stations with hand cranks near concession stands - I like mustard, pickle relish, and onions on my Dodger Dog.

Earlier in the year, Dodger Dog wieners showed up on sale at my local Ralphs Grocers. Hot Dogs freeze fine, so I picked up a few packages. 

And this year, the Dodgers brought in phenom pitcher and home run hitter Shohei Ohtani. He is now the record holder of the most home runs and stolen bases in a single season. He created a new category of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, the first baseball player to do so. All over L.A., there are murals and memorabilia featuring Shohei Ohtani to see and own.

I couldn't help but come up with my switch-hitter version of a Dodger Dog that I call an Ohtani Dodger Dog. It is a regular hot dog with 2 sheets of Dried Seaweed Snacks. Check out my recipe video below and see how my Ohtani Dodger Dog stacks up!

My other go-to Hot Dogs are a Kraut Dog and a Chili Dog. What is your designated hitter Hot Dog?

I like Chili from the can on my Hot Dog, but I also have a meaty Homemade Chili recipe, click here.

In this World Series of Recipes, New York City rules with Bagels while Los Angeles is the King of Tacos, so choose your sides!

This L.A. Dodger fan has to give it up for the N.Y.C. bagel. My wife's family is from the East Coast, so I am getting my fill of Bages these days, as my Christmas in NYC Bagel photo story below shows.

I get my Bagels locally from the Ralphs Grocery bakery bargain bin. Can't say I'm an expert on Bagels, but they do a good job for my taste.

The last time we were in NYC, I had a Bagel with Boiled Egg and Cream Cheese, OMG, it was a home run, sooo gooood. I had to make my own version, below.

Typically, Bages with Cream Cheese & Lox uses smoked salmon. My version is made with cheaper packages of cooked salmon mixed into cream cheese. While not as luscious, it is quite tasty...for the price. Check out my Homemade Salmon and Cream Cheese Spread. 

Lay out a few Bagel Spreads for your team players and let them build their own. Or, just slice some tomato and red onion with a plate of room-temperature cream cheese for a simple Bagel with Cream Cheese Sandwich.

Next to Hot Dogs, Tacos are a dugout-clearing favorite. I have a recipe for 20 Carnitas Tacos made with a whole cheap pork shoulder that will last extra innings!

If your guests are pork-averse, I have home plate covered by substituting Turkey Leg Carnitas instead of pork. It really works, as my instant replay recipe video below will attest.

I like chopped onion and cilantro on my Tacos. In California, avocados are cheap, so I always have a couple ripening. I am not above buying cheap jars or cans of salsa, but if you want to go all out, then check out my spicy Homemade Salsa recipes: Salsa Verde (tomatillo), Red Chile (dried chiles), chunky Pico de Gallo, and a sweet Mango Salsa.

My last recipe suggestion would have me thrown out of Yankee Stadium! 

Yeah, that's right, small individual frozen pizzas. I do love NYC thin-crust pizza, especially on the cheap.

 

New York City $1.50 Cheese Slice - sooo gooood!

But here in L.A. I get small, cheap pizzas from my local Dollar Tree. I start with a plain cheese pizza, then add extras like black olives, anchovies, and extra pepperoni.

So dig deep into my bullpen and click on any of the tasty treat names above to watch an instant reply of recipes from my blog. Your guest will be cheering you on -- from their cheap seats!