Best Bagels

Ingredients
2 packets instant dry yeast
2 tsp sea salt
Canned vegetable oil spray
4 cups bread flour
11 oz lukewarm water
1 Tbsp dark brown sugar

Separately...
2 quarts water
2 Tbsp dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp granulated sugar

Toppings of your choice...
Sesame seeds
Poppy seeds
"Everything Bagel" mix
Pretzel salt
Dry garlic chips
Dry onion chips

Directions
Mix together water and sugar. Once sugar is dissolved, mix in yeast and allow to rest 5 to 10 minutes until bubbly. In a large bowl, mix together flour and salt. Then add yeast/brown sugar liquid and gradually knead into a dough. Continue kneading until smooth - approximately 10 minutes, adding a tiny bit of extra flour if necessary. Note that this is a stiff dough. Tighten into a dough ball and place in a large bowl that has been sprayed with oil spray. Spray a little oil spray on the top of the dough, cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a room temperature area for about an hour. At the end of the rise, separate dough into 12 approximately even pieces (divide in half, then divide each half in half, then divide each of the 4 dough pieces into thirds - or, if you have a kitchen scale, weigh the entire dough ball and divide by 12. Then cut into 12 equal pieces). Spray 2 cookie sheets with oil spray. Tighten each of the twelve pieces of dough into individual dough balls, poke a hole in the middle of each dough ball with your thumb, and gently stretch each circle of dough to look like a small steering wheel, about 4" to 5" around. Place each bagel onto the oiled cookie sheets. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Now, fill a large pot with 2 quarts of water and mix in sugars until dissolved. Heat water to a light boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Place 2 to 3 bagels at a time into the simmering water, flipping each after 30 to 60 seconds. The bagels will puff up a bit. Allow them to simmer on the flip side an additional 60 seconds, then remove to a plate. Spray more oil spray on the 2 cookie sheets. Once excess water has drained from each bagel, you can either place them onto the cookie sheets and bake them as-is, or top them with your favorite toppings. To top them, brush some water onto each bagel dough on the cookie sheets and sprinkle on the toppings. Place into preheated oven and bake for 25-40 minutes, depending on the darkness and doneness desired. Remove to a cooling rack and cool for about 15 minutes, then enjoy toasted, with butter, or with a schmeer of cream cheese!