Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Round Challah: BBA Challenge #6 with French Toast Recipe

This bread is a reminder of how God provided for the Israelites during their flight out of Egypt. The history is documented in Exodus, Chapter 16 starting at verse 4. The round shape symbolizes that the world has no beginning and no end. The sesame seed symbolizes the falling of manna from heaven. Covering the challah with a cloth as it is served at the sabbath meal represents the heavenly dew that protected the manna.
Round challahs are most traditionally used for the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShanah.

This bread is simple to make. Mix the flour mixture with the egg mixture.

After two rises, divide the dough up in the number of stands you need for your braid.

I needed four stands. I divided the dough into four blobs weighing 204 grams each and shaped them into balls

I let the balls rest 10 minutes before rolling them into ropes

I created a tic-tac-toe form with the four ropes

Follow the directions located here for detailed explanation on creating this form

The top of the finished braid

The bottom of the finished braid

After the final rise, I glazed the dough with egg wash and added sesame seeds. One way to attach sesame seeds is to dip your thumb in water, then place you thumb into the seeds, then touch your thumb to the bread.


Here's the loaf ready to go into the oven

Finished loaf fresh from the oven

Sliced Challah.


Since I had it sliced, I made french toast for lunch using my Dad's recipe.

1 egg
1/4 cup of whole milk
splash of vanilla (~1/8 tsp)
sprinkling of cinnamon

Mix everything together.

Dip each side of the bread into egg mixture.

Fry on medium-high heat until brown.
Bon Apetite!



16 comments:

  1. What a beautiful, round challah. Your braiding is exquisite.

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  2. AWESOME! I've got to try that sometime.
    Great baking along with you,
    Susie

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  3. Challah makes the best french toast!

    My daughter and I were just drooling over this bread Tammy. I'm so impressed with your bread skills. The braiding is perfect - looks like a loaf that would cost $10-12 bucks at the store. Beautiful!!!

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  4. Thanks haleysuzanne! Wow. Exquisite. I love that word. :-D You make me want to braid another bread. :-)

    Thanks susies1955! It was fun to make and I enjoy baking along side of you also.

    Thanks ButterYum. You and your daughter make me swell with pride. I agree. Challah does make the best french toast. We even had it for supper that night. :-)

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  5. Yes to what the others said, your braiding is wonderful! I haven't made french toast in ages, this is making me think it's about time to do it again.

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  6. Thanks Julie! I want to make this bread again so I can have more french toast. :-)

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  7. Wow! You inspire me. I was pretty happy just to get a regular 3 strand braid in the oven! LOVE the tip about how to get sesame seeds to adhere.

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  8. Next time I make challah I am making the round braid loaf for sure!! Thanks for the inspiration!! Happy Baking!!

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  9. Simply beautiful! Great job. Found your blog thru the RLB forum, btw. Love that site.

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  10. Thanks Pete Eatemall. It was easier than I thought it would be.

    Thanks for stopping by Hanaa. I love the RLB forum too. Excellent people there.

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  11. Absolutely gorgeous! I've never seen a braid like that - WOW! Well done!

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  12. Thanks for stopping by Roundthetable. I saw the tip for putting the seeds on through a youtube video (but I don't remember which one)


    Thanks Kelly. It was fun to play with the dough. I really liked this bread!

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  13. Ooh wow. Your loaf looks great!

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  14. Oh wow! I love your round braid. It looks fantastic!

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  15. Thanks Maris and Cathy! It was fun to make, wasn't it?

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  16. That is a beautiful braid! I did a single braid for my cranberry walnut bread for mini-loaves. You'll have to check it out.

    http://friedalovesbread.blogspot.com/2009/07/bba-cranberry-walnut-celebration-bread.html

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