Beautiful Braided Challah

I love Shabbat. Friday is a race against the sun to clean the house, catch up the laundry, fix food for Friday dinner and Saturday and get in a half day of school before lighting the candles and receiving the rest God gave. I love the quietness of Saturday morning as everyone else sleeps in and I can enjoy the Creation reminder that God said "it is very good" then rested.

My friend, Gail, and I were talking about how we are trying to make the special day both restful and rich with tradition for our families. She was looking for a good Challah recipe, I told her I would post mine soon so she could print it and try it since it always got compliments and it was my son's favorite bread. That was a couple weeks ago, oops, sorry Gail, it slipped my mind but here it is now.

1 cup water, 105 to115F.
2 tablespoons yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 eggs
5-5 1/2 cups flour
3 tablespoons
sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional)

Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the water. Allow to rest 10 minutes, it will get frothy, if it doesn't then the yeast is dead and you need fresh yeast or the water was too cold or too hot. It is really not hard, just sounds like it at first.

Add the butter, salt and eggs.

Add the flour until you have a good elastic dough, it should not stick to the sides of the bowl, start with 5 cups then add a little at a time if it continues to stick.
Let rise in the bowl for 40 minutes.
Turn out onto the counter and knead for 3 minutes or so.

Now you have several options, you can make two individual loaves, one large with a smaller one on top, sandwich rolls or a ring for a super sandwich.
For sandwich rolls, cut into 18 pieces, roll and flatten, let rise 40 minutes, bake 400F for 25-30 minutes.
Rising/Baking time for all the other options-400F for 35-40 minutes.
For the braid on top of a braid: Cut 1/3 of the dough off and set aside, divide the 2/3 piece into 3 equal pieces, roll into ropes,

and braid, tucking ends underneath.

Place it on a greased sheet pan. Repeat braiding process with the 1/3 you set aside, laying it gently on top of the larger braid.

Cover with a towel

 

and allow to rise 40 minutes or until double in size.

Brush with the milk and sprinkle with seeds if you want them.

Bake as directed above. Temperature should read around 190F. when done.

This is a very versatile bread, good for sandwiches, with soup or salad, my friend Sue eats it plain, like me she loves bread. I love to share bread with her because I know none will go to waste!
For the ring: Divide into 3 pieces, roll into ropes braid connecting the ends into each other. Place around a glass (oven proof) dish WELL greased. Continue as above.

After this rises, bakes and cools, slice horizontally, fill with sliced meat and cheese, tomato, onion, etc.  I like to mix mayo and dark mustard together in the glass bowl (after washing) and fit it back down into the hole for serving.
Anyway you bake it or slice it, this is a recipe which should serve you well, and a lot of other people too.
Shabbat Shalom!

Homemade Chicken Stock

I like to have lots of stock on hand for soups, stews and sauces, it's nice to cook rice in too.
After we have a roast chicken, I pick off most of the rest of the meat,leaving the smallest bits, and save the bones in the refrigerator. In the morning, I put the bones into a 4-6 quart pot and fill it almost to the top with water. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat then reduce to low to maintain simmer.

Add an unpeeled onion ( the skin adds to the color), a couple stalks of celery with the leafy part, 4-6 peppercorns, 1 teaspoon salt,a few sprigs of parsley, and a carrot. Put the lid on and simmer 2 hours.

This is what it should look like after a couple hours.

Two hours is just an estimate, if you are pressed for time an hour will do but 3 is even better.
Pour through a sieve or colander to remove all the bones and vegetables.

After it is chilled, the fat will rise to the top and can be skimmed off easily. Use with in 3-5 days or freeze for another time. I'd like to have several quarts in the freezer but we use it almost as fast as I make it. It can also be pressure canned to save space in the freezer, the Blue Book says - 1 inch head space, 25 minutes, 10 pounds pressure.
So next time you roast a chicken (or turkey, or beef roast) don't waste those leftovers, make the best stock you'll ever have in only a few minutes prep time.

How to peel a Pomegranate

I recently was eating some pomegranate seeds as my neighbor walked in the back door. Wrinkling her nose and glaring at them, asked what "those things" were. "Why these beautiful, ruby red gems are so delicious and healthy, how is it you have never seen pomegranate seeds? Here, try some." Tentatively, grudgingly, she put one in her mouth, huh. Okay. You eat the seeds? You only eat the seeds?" "Yep!" We often have these intellectually stimulating conversations.  I will give you this much, while peeling, they don't appear too appetizing. But the unwrapping is an exercise in patience and well rewarded.

So here is the unwrapping process.

First, cut off both ends with a sharp knife. 

Score the sides, don't cut too deeply or you will cut into the seeds.

Fill a bowl with cool water and soak the pomegranate for 15-20 minutes.

After the outer peel is softened start peeling the white away.

I peel it over and into the bowl of water because the seeds will sink and the white pith will float making it very easy to collect the seeds.

Gently loosen the seeds. Yum! Juicy, rich tasting pomegranate seeds, packed with antioxidants. Eat these alone, as a snack or toss into a salad, I'm sure once you try them you'll think of lots of ways to use these.

Enjoy!

Savory Baked Artichoke Dip

What a cold, snowy day, beautiful, but only from inside. Huge wet flakes, abundantly falling...on top of 3 inches of slush, yuck. The low spots in our yard have open puddles with inches of snow cresting around the brim. There's only one thing to do, yes, make some comfort food.

I started Chicken Enchilada Soup this morning in the crock pot, but Samuel and I wanted something special, warm and cheesy now with some apples and tangerines for lunch.

This is not our usual lunch by any stretch of the imagination, we usually eat leftovers or tuna with salad, healthier fare but not as comforting on a snowy day.

I got this recipe from my friend, Pat, every recipe I've gotten from her is so good, even the cabbage soup was pretty tasty. I've only made a few changes, more garlic and more hot sauce to be specific.

This goes together in just 10 minutes then pop it into the oven, I used my toaster oven for this small dish to save some electricity.

1 14oz. can artichokes, drained
3/4 cup mayo (only the real stuff)
1 cup grated or shredded parmesan
4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1/4 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
4-5 drops hot sauce
In a 1 quart baking dish, mix together the parmesan and mayo,

 then add all the rest of the ingredients.

Stir to combine.

Place in a 350F oven for 20-25 minutes until cheese is bubbly and beginning to brown on top.

Mmmm :)

Serve with chips or crackers.
Share with those who did the real work!

They're so cute!