Challah (Jewish Egg Bread)

Challah (Jewish Egg Bread)

• Flour (4 Cups)
• Active Dry Yeast (3 Teaspoons)
• Sugar (1/4 Cup)
• Salt (1 Teaspoon)
• Egg Yolks (4)
• Egg (1)
• Butter (1/4 Cup, Melted)
• Hot Water (3/4 Cups)

Instructions

• Put the Flour in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
• In a small bowl mix together the Yeast, Sugar, and Water together. Let this stand until it becomes bubbly. (5-7 minutes.)

• In another bowl beat together 3 of the Egg Yolks, Egg, Butter, and Salt.
• Pour the Yeast mixture, and Egg mixture into the bowl with the Flour. Mix together until a shaggy dough forms. (Adding a teaspoon of water at a time if needed.)

• Lightly flour a surface, and start kneading the dough until it is smooth and pliant. Bunch into a ball, and place into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a warm, damp towel for 40 minutes, or until doubled in size.
• Divide the dough into six pieces, rolling each piece into a 12 inch long rope. Braid three of the ropes together to form the Challah, and pinch together the ends.

• Place onto a lightly oiled baking sheet, and cover with a damp towel for 60 minutes. 
• Preheat oven to 400 Degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Take the remaining Egg Yolk, beat well, and generously spread over each loaf of Challah. 
• Place the loaves in the oven and reduce heat to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the Challah sounds hollow when tapped. 
• Plate and Enjoy!

I love how this Challah came out! It's the first true bread I've ever made, and I'm really happy how it turned out. (Look at that glaze!) 

In Eragon I really felt that a nice bread was in order, and this is a bread I've wanted to try making for a little while. I just love the braided form, and I want to use some of this for sandwiches as well this weekend. To me nothing beats a double-use recipe, and this bread it going to be perfect for morning toast, and sandwich bread.

Bread is something that is a staple with individuals like Eragon and Murtagh right now, and it's something that can be easily carried via saddlebag. 

I would write more but my fiancé's home! Yipee!