The sixth Bread Baker's Apprentice challenge (from the book by the same name authored by Peter Reinhart) was Challah, and is found on pages 133-134.
This was wonderful tasting bread: great for eating out of hand, grilled cheese and other sandwiches, French Toast, and dinner rolls.
I made it twice trying to get my braid to look like something...anything at all resembling a braid. Proved it doesn't have to look good to taste good.
The actual recipe was easy, although there are steps necessitating that one minds the bread and is attentive over about a four hour stretch, so plan accordingly. It is not intensive minding, just a little to do here and there, a few rest periods, and if you are planning on being home anyway, say doing laundry, it all goes by quickly. The taste is delicious, so it is worth making now and again.
I think we especially enjoyed it as dinner rolls.
My first attempt at making the braided version resulted in what I have affectionately named "Wild Thing," as the braid broke in several places while it was rising (have no idea how that happens), the ends did not stay tucked under, etc., so it was all waving about in the air a bit like a wild thing. Never you mind, however, as it tasted delicious. I grew rather fond of the look of Wild Thing, but I knew all my BBA S&S pals would be producing these wonder loaves of stellar beauty, so I had to go back in and give it another try. You can catch a glimpse of the Wild Thing here at the right.
The second try, in the photograph at the top of the post, I fashioned half of the dough into a braid, okay, something braid-esque at least (if you cut in half horizontally, it looks like two lobster tails actually, still need to work on the braiding thing), and a pan of little dinner rolls. Those rolls disappeared faster than you can imagine...some right out of the oven, and the rest at dinner.
Will I try the braid again? I think I am willing to admit that braiding dough is not my strong suit. Making bread that my family loves, however, is in the cards. They are always very enthusiastic and appreciative of my efforts. Which is exactly why I do it. Try this one, you'll be happy you did...and if you don't like to braid, make rolls!
Nancy, Cathy, Audrey, Jessica, Melissa, Sarah, Di, Leslie, and I are baking and posting every other week to better fit into our schedules. If you would like to see their Challah, click on their names and visit their sites in the next few days, or you can visit the main group and marvel how they are all already onto Cranberry Walnut Bread. We'll get there...Slow and Steady.