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Challah
Topic Started: Nov 16 2008, 12:05 PM (1,835 Views)
yeishlitikvah
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Do you tend to make your own or buy?
Do you like Water or Egg Challah better?
Is there a brand you/your family prefer?


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yeishlitikvah
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oopps boosting my post count.

I almost always buy. I find baking is to involved. Also since we're two people I have to overoverbake to take challah. And it doesn't always keep well.

I love egg challah. then agian I like anything that tastes like cake.

I usually buy Zomick's rolls. This week I tried the Zaide's 'garlic pullapart' it was OMG soooo amazing I was threatening to leave my husband for the challah. lol
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Dina
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we dont have it weekly- but when we get we either get frozen (dont know the name) or bakery baked here. the fresh isnt kosher (neither are we) but its amazing.

i wouldnt even know how to begin to make it fresh
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hallie_ari_mom
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I make my own weekly. I don't like store bought or frozen. I was never into challah until I started making it myself. I prefer egg, and I put a vanilla sugar mix on top for a sweet week.
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U Tarzan Me Jane
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I bake and buy. We only use water challah. My husband is sefardic and we consider egg challah to be mezonot.
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Marion
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Both. I prefer to make it because then I get 1/2 whole wheat, but somehow it seems to often fall by the wayside. It's not soooooo time consuming, but somehow when I have to do it in shifts (proof yeast, mix dough, rise, rise, braid, rise, bake) it doesn't happen. You can't proof yeast overnight and if I wait until morning to do it then the dough doesn't get mixed before I leave for work, then the yeast sits out too long...
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realeez
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I have not bought challah in years. We just really don't like the taste of bakery challah. The last time I bought was over 4 years ago when we moved on a Thursday! I make dough each week in the bread machine - a really sweet recipe that is so good!
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hallie_ari_mom
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I use your recipe, Realeez.. It's amazing and a hit every week!
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realeez
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awww I am honoured!
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hallie_ari_mom
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:) And I give you credit for it too....
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yeishlitikvah
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I always find making my own challah overwhelming and frustrating.

Do you think its worth it to invest in a breadmaker?
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realeez
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yeishlitikvah
Nov 16 2008, 08:46 PM
I always find making my own challah overwhelming and frustrating.

Do you think its worth it to invest in a breadmaker?
i couldn't do it without - it more than pays for itself!
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yeishlitikvah
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At this point in my life buying it elminates a panic attack. I think one less panic attack a week is better for my overall being.
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Marion
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Why a breadmaker? I mix in the big stand mixer.
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hallie_ari_mom
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I use my hands. It takes me no time at all and one less thing to wash. I do the mixing, and while I do it my oven is set at 200. When I'm done, I put a shmata over it, shut the oven off, put it in and let it rise. I take it out an hour-ish later and mix it again... and back in the oven. Then I mix it, braid it, but it back for a final rise... then I bake it.
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realeez
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Marion
Nov 17 2008, 01:32 AM
Why a breadmaker? I mix in the big stand mixer.
The bread machine is probably much cheaper (I got mine for $60) and you just stick the ingredients in it and it kneads it every 20 minutes (plus it's a bit warm in there). I injured the bottom part of my hand banging out a window to a classroom years ago when we were stuck inside and the guy outside said he took at all the screws but didn't and still have a hard time kneading or squeezing so by hand isn't an option for me.
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realeez
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yeishlitikvah
Nov 16 2008, 11:08 PM
At this point in my life buying it elminates a panic attack. I think one less panic attack a week is better for my overall being.
Your sanity is worth more than price of a bread machine!
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Dina
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hallie_ari_mom
Nov 17 2008, 06:48 AM
I use my hands. It takes me no time at all and one less thing to wash. I do the mixing, and while I do it my oven is set at 200. When I'm done, I put a shmata over it, shut the oven off, put it in and let it rise. I take it out an hour-ish later and mix it again... and back in the oven. Then I mix it, braid it, but it back for a final rise... then I bake it.
that sounds like it takes ALOT of time. Realeez-do you bake in the breadmachine or just mix it there?
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ScrappingMom
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I make my own challah most of the time. It's a long process, but not a hard one b/c most of the time is spent waiting (waiting for it to rise once, twice, bake). I don't use a breadmaker or mixer. The whole thing is done by hand in a very large bowl (the size they use in the matzah bakery to mix the flour and water). I use a 5lb flour recipe and freeze the rest for the following week.

Marion, if I'm short on time, I do the first rising in the fridge. Regular rising takes 2 hours, but If I leave it in the fridge overnight (or longer), it'll take longer to rise. I want to start replacing some of the white flour with whole wheat. Not sure how that experiment will work.

Yeishlitikva, if you like whole wheat, Zomick's whole wheat challah is delicious! Soft and not heavy. As for quantity, I get btwn 8-10 challahs a recipe. I freeze them as soon as they've cooled down. I use Ziploc bags and they are delicious the next week.
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hallie_ari_mom
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Dina
Nov 17 2008, 07:52 AM
hallie_ari_mom
Nov 17 2008, 06:48 AM
I use my hands. It takes me no time at all and one less thing to wash. I do the mixing, and while I do it my oven is set at 200. When I'm done, I put a shmata over it, shut the oven off, put it in and let it rise. I take it out an hour-ish later and mix it again... and back in the oven. Then I mix it, braid it, but it back for a final rise... then I bake it.
that sounds like it takes ALOT of time. Realeez-do you bake in the breadmachine or just mix it there?
It's not.. initially, gathering ingredients and my first need takes about 10-15 minutes. Each kneed after that is only about 2 minutes. So maybe it actually takes 15-20 minutes to make it with time in between for it to sit, while I"m living life doing other things. I've also skipped the second kneed and it turns out just fine.

And I have no bread machine to wash. (actually.. I DO have one sitting in my garage...)

I don't think it matters how you do it, I think it's great that you want to do it.
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realeez
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Dina
Nov 17 2008, 07:52 AM
hallie_ari_mom
Nov 17 2008, 06:48 AM
I use my hands. It takes me no time at all and one less thing to wash. I do the mixing, and while I do it my oven is set at 200. When I'm done, I put a shmata over it, shut the oven off, put it in and let it rise. I take it out an hour-ish later and mix it again... and back in the oven. Then I mix it, braid it, but it back for a final rise... then I bake it.
that sounds like it takes ALOT of time. Realeez-do you bake in the breadmachine or just mix it there?
just make the dough there and braid after and bake on a baking sheet.
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ScrappingMom
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I don't do a 2nd knead. I let the dough rise for 2 hrs, braid, 2nd rise (about an hour), bake.
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Dina
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it tastes yummy- but still too much work for me
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hallie_ari_mom
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I'll mail you one. :)

I started as a lot for me.. but it eventually got easier. I"m also a potchkier in the kitchen so I don't mind playing in there.

Fairway has an amazing challah.. probably the best I"ve ever tasted. My rebbitzen makes wonderful ones too, but I can't get to her in the morning to get one.
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realeez
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I dump everything in the bread machine, forget about it for a couple of hours, shape, let rise, and bake.
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Dina
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still is easier to buy it (when we can find it)
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hallie_ari_mom
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I agree... but I don't like how our bakeries challah tastes... or Trader Joe's.. and Fairway is SO far.
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Dina
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the italian bakeries here do a really go job with it.
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realeez
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Dina
Nov 17 2008, 02:52 PM
still is easier to buy it (when we can find it)
I hate parking lots so for me it's easier to make mine lol! by now it's just one of the things on my to-do list for thursday or friday and i do plenty in between rising times.
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Dina
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maybe one of these days ill try- someone from another board offered for me to go to her house to watch her do it so it wouldnt be so daunting the first time
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