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Big Black Dog: Challah **Sometimes you get it just perfect

June 14, 2009

Challah **Sometimes you get it just perfect


Challah; chal·lah also cha·lah or hal·lah (KHä'lə, hä'-)
n. A loaf of yeast-leavened egg bread, usually braided, traditionally eaten by Jews on the Sabbath, holidays, and other ceremonial occasions.


The below photos represent a huge milestone in my blogging experience. They are the very first photos posted to my blog that needed no color or lighting manipulation from a photo program. All I did was crop and add my name to each photo. For the very first time the lighting was perfect. Hallelujah..I finally got it right!



Challah1



I can't believe I've already completed six breads from my Bread Baker's Apprentice Baking Group! I enjoy baking bread and would bake bread daily if we could eat that much. Challah dough is very easy to work with and although the braiding looks difficult, it's not.



Challah4



I made the loaf of Challah on Saturday and promised Mr. Tastebud's I would make him some Strawberry French Toast for Sunday Brunch. Unfortunately, Sunday morning I had no appetite what-so-ever. Why I go through times like this I don't know but sometimes I just don't feel like eating and nothing sounds good to me. Now when I look at these delicious looking photos, how I wish I had at least tasted it. WOW, it really does look good!



StFrench1




Simple French Toast
Recipe adapted from my Mom

2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 c. milk
5-6 slices of bread
Cinnamon
Cooking Spray like Pam

Option: Fresh fruit

Measure the milk into a small bowl. Add slightly beaten eggs and mix well. Pour milk/egg mix on to a small platter or pie plate. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Over medium-low heat, heat griddle or skillet coated with cooking spray.

Place a bread slice into the egg mixture, letting the slice soak up egg mixture for only a few seconds, then carefully turn to coat the other side. Coat only 1 slice of bread at a time and only as many slices as you will be cooking at one time. You may have to add more cinnamon.

Transfer bread slices to griddle or skillet, heating slowly until bottom is golden brown. Turn and brown the other side. Serve French toast hot with butter and syrup and fresh fruit.



StFrench3




I've done a 3, 4, 5, and 6-Braid Challah and I thought was doing great. But then I found the below video demonstrating a 12-braid Challah. A 12-BRAID Challah...OMW, it's huge. Doesn't this look like fun! I might have to make this one next time!





Google Books has the entire book, "The Bread Baker's Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread", by Peter Reinhart, scanned and you can find the recipe on Page 133 by clicking here.



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24 Comments:

Blogger Susie said...

ABSOLUTELY beautiful and the video really helps. Great job and nice baking along with you.
Susie

June 14, 2009 at 4:42 AM  
Blogger Betzie said...

WOW, that looks so so yummy!!!!!!!!! I am not a good baker at all...amazing!
Don't know how you couldn't have eaten it...

June 14, 2009 at 7:15 AM  
Blogger Judy@nofearentertaining said...

Beautiful!!! I love the braiding job and the French Toast!!!

June 14, 2009 at 7:49 AM  
Blogger Deeba PAB said...

Thats a stunning loaf & a milestone in photography too...wow!Looks gorgeous! Wonder if I'll ever get that far ...on both counts. When my daughter was young, I used to plait her hair into French braids; your video link reminds me of those days! Sorry you didn't eat the toast; I have some days like that too.

June 14, 2009 at 8:03 AM  
Blogger Maria said...

what a fantastic breakfast treat!

June 14, 2009 at 8:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Pink Satur-unday. I love your post, as a young wife and mother (and hippie) I used to make all of our bread. I used a cookbook called The Tassahara Bread Book, might be spelled wrong but phonetically it's like that. Fond memories, I loved making bread.

Got a minute? Pour a cuppa, pull up a comfy chair and please stop by - I love company.

xJ
MaidenShade.wordpress.com
DeStash.me
MaidenShade.com

June 14, 2009 at 8:11 AM  
Blogger Di said...

Your challah loaf is gorgeous! And strawberries sounds delicious with the French toast. We love French toast around here (both girls are big fans).

June 14, 2009 at 8:15 AM  
Anonymous Cindy said...

Your challah is gorgeous but what I'm really impressed with is your photography. I too am struggling with lighting and you have mastered it today!! Any tips you can offer would be greatly appreciated. I just bought Lou Manna's book "Digital Food Photography" hoping for some good info.

That 12 braid challah is wicked. Not sure i could master it.
Thanks!!

June 14, 2009 at 8:47 AM  
Blogger Maris said...

This looks unbelievable! I'm about to start my challah and hope it's as good as yours!

June 14, 2009 at 9:11 AM  
Anonymous Kayte said...

Oh that is just gorgeous...all of it, the bread, the french toast with those lovely strawberries. Very very nice.

June 14, 2009 at 9:28 AM  
Blogger Carol said...

Great looking challah! Next time freeze a slice of the French Toast so you can get a taste, it looks fantastic!

June 14, 2009 at 9:32 AM  
Blogger Angry Asian said...

congrats on your beautiful pix! your challah looks so fresh and soft. i've heard that they make the best french toast but whenever i make challah, they never reach that point. hopefully you'll be able to sample a taste soon! :)

June 14, 2009 at 10:00 AM  
Anonymous The Purple Foodie said...

OMG Michelle! I want to get to your pace as well. Love your challah. And love your photos even more. Makes me want to grab a fork right away.

June 14, 2009 at 10:01 AM  
Blogger Lori E said...

Well I never have the "not hungry" problem. You always make these wonderful breads seem doable.
Thanks.

June 14, 2009 at 12:50 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

WOW, wow and more wow! First wow is for the photo! Second and third wows are for the french toast. Now I'm starving!!

June 14, 2009 at 1:29 PM  
Blogger Pete Eatemall said...

Working on some french toast now with our leftover Challah! Your pics are awesome! Hopefully you will enjoy the next one! Happy baking.

June 14, 2009 at 3:24 PM  
Blogger Manuela said...

Amazing! Just Amazing!
Bravo!

June 14, 2009 at 5:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WOW! That is a great picture, and your challah looks perfect. I'm looking forward to making mine this week.

June 14, 2009 at 9:48 PM  
Blogger Kathleen said...

Oh yumity yum...great job!
Where have you been?
I know, baking bread!
Let there be WHITE TABLESETTING EVENT AT MY PLACE..JUNE 23RD
You must have white dishes you can do that or white food ..or both
Come play, you need a break from all your work!

June 15, 2009 at 12:32 PM  
Blogger Meeko Fabulous said...

Ok, ok . . . I'm intrigued. Where do I get a recipe for Challah Bread?

June 15, 2009 at 1:31 PM  
Anonymous Teanna said...

That challah is gorgeous! When I get excited about things, I should "CHALLAH!" like "HOLLER!" because it is so much fun to say. This definitely gets a big CHALLAAAAAAAH! from me!

June 16, 2009 at 9:15 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Oh my! my mouth is watering, great recipes, wonderful photos!

June 16, 2009 at 11:23 AM  
Anonymous Janice said...

What a gorgeous color! Our challah loaf didn't make it to the weekend - therefore no french toast. Your photos make me want to make it all over again. Congrats on getting the lighting just right!

June 23, 2009 at 4:35 PM  
Blogger ATigerInTheKitchen said...

Love the pictures of your French toast -- beautiful challah, too! I wish I'd seen that braiding video before I'd tackled my challah. Thanks for posting ...

June 30, 2009 at 10:14 AM  

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