30 Percent More Bagel

Breakfast just got cheaper without getting blander. Instead of cutting your bagel in half for the shmear, cut it in thirds. Duh, right? Not so fast. The trick here is a good serrated knife and a good bagel to begin with. My carb of choice is Noah's bagels, which I buy for $4.99 a dozen at Costco. Sometimes they're so fresh, they're still warm. Once home from my Costco run (the equivalent of Army bootcamp) I bag each bagel individually in a plastic bag and freeze all but a couple that will be eaten within days (this only moments before lapsing into a Costco run induced coma). When I'm ready to serve, (having miraculously come out of the coma with only a nap as remedy -- note to self: alert Mayo Clinic) I cut the bagel in thirds and toast. The slimmer bagel slice fits in a standard toaster better than the half, so you won't burn those crumbs at the bottom or any ragged edges on your bagel slice. 

Dos and Don'ts

DO NOT slice bagel in thirds and bag the slices. They are not as good as if you bag the whole bagel and then slice the bagel in thirds as needed. 

DO use a good knife and watch your fingers. Cutting in thirds requires dexterity. Economy is not for the oafish among us. 

DO defrost bagels for ten seconds in your microwave if you're using the singles you've frozen. After ten seconds, the bagels will be the perfect texture to slices into thirds and toast. 

DO note that you will be eating fewer carbs if you choose this bagel breakfast method, but beware of slathering extra shmear. Keep it lite and you'll eat better, cheaper and healthier!