My Grandma Bakes Challah Bread

My Grandma Bakes Challah Bread

My Grandma, Clarice Malach, is one of the most incredible people on the planet. Her energy, vitality, and courage have inspired me all my life. All her life, she has been baking challah bread every week for almost 80 years. She's carried down the tradition through the generations in her family and I convinced her to share her secret recipe. 

Clarice, the day after the shoot

The RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS: 

– 1.5 lbs of AP Flour (AP, Bread, or other)

– 2 ounces of sugar

– 2 teaspoons salt

– 1/4 oz, 7 grams, or one packet of active dry yeast 

– 3x Tablespoons oil

– 2x eggs

– 6-8 oz of HOT water

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METHOD: 

1. Combine dry ingredients and stir together

2. Beat eggs and oil together 

3. Add 6 oz of water to flour and mix together

4. Then Add the egg and oil mixture and begin working dough

5. If necessary add 1-2 oz more of water until dough comes together

6. Knead dough for about 5 minutes

8. Place dough in a greased bowel, cover, and let sit in a warm place for about an hour

9. After it has risen, punch it down then knead again for about one minute

10. Shape the dough, then cover and let rise for one more hour

11. Before putting the loaves in the oven, brush them with some oil and sprinkle with salt

12. Bake for 20 minutes, check the bread, then rotate pan and bake for 5 more minutes or until golden-brown