This isn't a fast & easy recipe; unfortunately, it is quite a process. However everyone knows quality takes time! Especially in baking. If you know and love a dense, chewy, flavorful bagel just like the you can get in a wonderful Jewish bagel shop, This process will be worth it to you! I have been making bagels for a while according to a Montreal bagel recipe and everyone swoons about them, but I really do like this one better... Enjoy! Thanks all for your kind comments, I've added a few updates/details to the recipe...Reading your results made me hungry for these after not making them for a while!