[ITJB Challenge] Week 3 - Honey Whole Wheat Challah (with bonus bread!)
Today was the final stretch before heading to the in-laws for Christmas. I spent pretty much the whole day in the kitchen, minus a trip to the grocery store. The takeaway:
First, this was week 3 of the Inside the Jewish Bakery challenge. I haven't actually gotten to taste the results, so my comments are limited. I did a four-high braid, and had a little trouble getting the ends to stick together. I ended up wetting my fingers and kind of blending it, which seemed to work. There are some shots of the initial braiding and the final rise at the bottom. On top of the two challah loaves, I also did a pullman pan full of PR's pannetone recipe. I used dried strawberriers, dried orange-infused cranberries, and dried sour cherries that I soaked for a day in apple brandy (plus the vanilla and orange extract). For the nuts, I used 5 oz of macadamias and 2 oz of almonds. Finally, another pan of Mohn bars from week one of the ITJB.
Comments
Loyd,
No photos on my end....just little boxes with ?marks in them which is exactly what is happening in my head :-)
Your panettone sounds a lot more 'robust' than the ones I made...no alcohol in mine but boy did they turn out 'cute'. I baked them in bright red tulip baking cups and used sliced almonds on the tops - 4 to each bread in a star like formation and then topped with an egg wash. I liked making them so much I did organge chocolate ones too...all gone now :-)
I never got to the florentines. My daughter baked some oatmeal cookies that spread a lot so I figured they were close enough...people loved them.
I am thinking I will have to take a second look at those Mohn bars....you keep mentioning them so it is hard to ignore :-) but I have to figure out altitude changes....my eggnog cupcakes fell because I didn't adjust....tasty but look like the cones of inactive valcanos....I will fill the voids with frosting in the morning..
Thanks for the post and I would love to see the photos.
Take Care,
Janet
P.S.
Photos just showed up. I love the 4 strand braids! I just made some challah loaves but did one 6 strand, and then two 3 strand braids because the dough was sticky ( I made them with sd and added vanilla and almond meal....I am thinking the vanilla added the sticky factor.....) ....Now, after seeing your loaves, I want to bake another batch and do the 4 strand braid....Maybe that will be on tomorrow's prepping schedule to be baked on Sunday.....
I almost made oatmeal cookies a couple of nights ago, then decided they wouldn't make it until the weekend :) I like the 4-strand better than the 3-strand for sure -- they got way more height to them.
You could just put a Hershey's Kiss on the center of each cupcake next time and let it gracefully sink in... Mmmmm. Chocolate.
We're about to head out, have a merry whichever-festival-in-which-you-partake!
Loyd
These 'craters' would need about 5 kisses and maybe some caramel chunks throw in.....we are talking deep :-)
I checked out high altitude baking and now will tweak baking powder amts and heat but not until next year...the eggnog is gone and I am done....the challah leaven is under the lamp and this evening I will mix the final dough and bake tomorrow...
Still waiting on my bagels to be ready to boil and I have a pumpkin pie for my son to bake so a full day. Nice that my husband helped out with dishes this morning...
Enjoy yourself :-)
Janet