Challah that's pretty and easy? Sign me up!

[wrenb]

The last couple of weeks Drew and I have been making an effort to have a nice dinner on Friday night. This week we weren't sure what we'd eat, but he asked me to make challah anyway. So Thursday night after dinner I started the challah. My current favorite recipe is the Czernowitzer Challah from A Blessing of Bread. It's very easy to mix up -- no power tools required. Unfortunately it starts with a 2+ hour rise, and it was pushing 8pm when I finally got it going. My Thursday night Facebook status was "Waiting for the challah to rise so I can go to bed". Eventually I gave up and just threw the bowl in the fridge overnight.

Friday morning the dough had risen nicely but I was a little concerned about it over-rising through the day. Neither of us had time to wait for the dough to warm and bake, though, so we went for it. Drew shaped the challah while I was in the shower -- a 4 strand braid that looks complicated but is as easy as a 3 strand. He covered it with a damp tea towel and put it in the booze cellar for the day. When I got home at 5:15 the dough was in nice shape -- not over-risen at all! I put my egg wash on and baked it.

And here's how it turned out!

From Blog photos

From Blog photos

Beautiful, easy, and it fit into my usual schedule! I am a very happy camper.

Comments

[nidea.livejournal.com]

That is one gorgeous challah! I have a great recipe but it does take 6 hours or so altogether. I use a 6-part braid that is very easy but the ends sometimes look a little weird. Unfortunately my husband doesn't eat wheat anymore so I haven't baked it in quite a while. :( I need to do so just for myself.

Nonetheless we had a nice Shabbat dinner last night too -- scallops (yeah, we're not kosher), beets, salad with avocado, and some carrot sticks. We split a wheat-free ginger cookie for dessert. Yum.

I'd like to meet you in person some time! My schedule is filling up with dr's appts and whatnot, but I have my own car now, so that makes it easier... Send an LJ message if you like!

[morganlf.livejournal.com]

That is one gorgeous loaf of bread!

Sharing

[beth_leonard]

Hi,

I just shared this link with eilonwey (who you may know from school and may not, she was 2 years ahead of you at Scrips/Mudd) and then realized it's a locked post. Do you mind if I share it with her? She likes to cook and has recently started a food journal at http://suburbankitchen.wordpress.com/

--Beth

Re: Sharing

[wrenb.livejournal.com]

No problem Beth! I unlocked the post. I usually post Friends Only these days after a spate of Salmonbot IMs. But there's no reason for this to be f-locked.

[kmelion.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous loaves!

I found you via a comment you left in eyelid's LJ re: Brit Milah.

I wanted to share with you a site for an organization that provides safe and kosher Brit Milahs around the world for anyone who needs them (for babies, adults and in between).

http://www.brityy.org