This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to winners Danit B. and Chaya L.
I used to be a challah buyer.
In my first six years of my marriage, I don’t think I baked a single challah – a fact of which I’m neither proud nor ashamed. I lived in Israel those first six years, and sticky-sweet challot were plentiful and cheap.
But then we moved to Kansas, where challah costs at least $5 per loaf. I nearly choked on the $15+ we’d spent on challah each week. And so we became challah bakers.
At first, my husband made the challot, but over the last two years, I have taken on this job more and more — until I’ve finally embraced it as “my thing”.
I will admit that sometimes it stresses me out (“Gotta make the doughnuts challah!”), but I’ve found that mostly I love the process.
Especially the braiding.
I braid five strands, which I know is usual, but I do one strand for each of my three children, plus two more for me and my husband.
It’s such a subtle, yet physical, way to demonstrate love for my family.
When I take that sticky dough in my hands, and shape it into imperfect braids, I become part of a community of challah bakers.
All over the world, there are a multitude of us kneading and rolling and braiding and egg washing, dividing and making brachot.
Whether your flour is white or wheat or spelt; whether you braid with three, or four, or six – or an odd five, like me, challah baking is a fairly universal — and one might argue quintessential — Jewish experience.
Which is why my first reaction to a book called “A Taste of Challah” was … Really? A whole book just about challah?!
But an old friend promised me that this is really a lovely cookbook – plus, he told me (knowing this would sweeten the pot for me), it’s on sale thru May 13th (15% off with free shipping from Feldheim).
He even sent me out a copy of A Taste of Challah by Tamar Ansh last week for my review. My dubiousness gave way to delight – I was was very pleasantly surprised by just how much I liked this book.
There is an extensive section dedicated to the myriad ways to braid challot. I loved the napkin rings and wine holders. And the basket weave was incredible — for the patient baker, I think it could be gorgeous for your Shavuot table. (A simpler choice would be flower-shaped challot, which she also features in her book.)
You will also find a dozen or so new challah recipes, from traditional to honey wheat to gluten-free. The last section of the book has a number of dips which look very yummy, plus non-challah breads, both yeast and non-yeast.
Interspersed throughout the recipes and braiding tips are personal stories from different women about their experiences with baking challah.
First published in 2007, this most recent printing of A Taste of Challah is truly a lovely book – and I think it would make a great gift for any woman, whether she’s just starting to bake her own challah, or she’s a pro with decades of experience.
Thru May 13, you can buy A Taste of Challah for $29.74, with free media shipping from Feldheim.com.
And thru May 12th, you can enter to win one of two copies that I am giving away!
To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling me whether you are a baker or a buyer. And if you bake, I’d love to know how many strands you typically braid.
This giveaway is open only to residents of the United States who are 18 or older. Entries will be accepted until Sunday, May 12th at 11:59 p.m. CST. The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email immediately. He or she will have 48 hours to respond. Good luck!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “A Taste of Challah” to facilitate my review; Feldheim Books will also provide the winner of this contest with his or her cookbook. I m an affiliate of Feldheim.com, however I was not compensated for hosting this giveaway nor for sharing my (positive) opinions. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations. And also because I want you to know.
I bake a loaf of bread in my breadmaker, which is delicious and totally acceptable as challah:)
Now that I have a bread machine, I’m totally a baker!!! I do two bigger six stranders and a handful of personal sized rolls
I’m a challah baker! I tend to make mine with either four or five strands, but I have been known to make round braids (thank you, KOAB tutorial) or a Magen David challah.
Baker three I try six fail
I bake! And I do 6 strands….would love to learn 5 though! 🙂
I like to bake and have experimented with combining some brownie and cookie recipes. I have never tried challahs and have cut back on baking since I have been married because my FIL works at a bakery and brings home bakery items for everyone.
definately a buyer of challah……..altho my dad used to bake challa every other week with his mother’s recipe.she would make a loaf and then put a skinny braid on top…..these
were german water challot……..
I usually end up buying challah, but If I have time to bake… I’m a 4-strander.
I’m a baker and I love to participate in a hafrashas challah circle, where 40 women are mafrish challah and daven for someone.
I am a BAKER, through and through! Funny/true story: I first started baking challah about 8 years ago, after my rebbetzin shared her recipe with me (I had baked everything under the sun, but never challah). After I altered/perfected the recipe to my taste, I taught my mother (also a lover of baking) how to bake challah. My mom would call me for tips, advice, and with a million questions; it was clear that *I* was the expert, and my mother (who had always been my baking inspiration) the student. Now, 8 years later, my mother is a WAY better challah baker than I am, and she regularly bakes up to 80 loaves for shul dinners! People in her community flock to taste the challah she bakes in her (or her shul’s) ovens. She also taught me how to braid with more strands (we both prefer the 4-strand look). Regardless of who bakes the better challah, it is definitely an activity we love to do together, and it has made us even closer than we once were (and that’s a tall order!). I regularly teach challah baking to friends, but at the end of the day my mother is the champ.
I am a baker! I feel like its such a beautiful thing to do on friday mornings!!! i usually braid three or six braid but i like to experiment with shapes etc…
There are a lot a brachos in baking challah and doing hafrasha!
I am a buyer of challah. I do occasionally make my own challah. Sometimes my daughter and I and a few friends will get together and make challah together (so much fun!)
im an occasional baker of the most boring three braid type. but the taste makes up for the lack of creativity 🙂
I am definitely a baker, and purchased a bread machine recently to do the kneading for me because I am finding it more difficult to do with arthritis. I just tried to braid with four strands for the first time, I have only used three in the past. The bread machine only allows five cups of flour, and I am using your recipe which calls for five and a half cups, so the dough was too sticky. I need to figure out an adjustment to the recipe to accommodate the bread maker.
baker… 3 or 6 and single strand bulkleach 😉
A baker! My family loves homemade challah. I make 5lb every 2-3 weeks, depending on how much company I have.
I’m a buyer, but I’d love to change that 🙂
i’m a buyer-it’s cheaper than buying the frozen loaf, but I would love to have the skills to do it weekly like some of my show off friends!
I work late hours and don’t usually have a lot of time to make challah but my husband LOVES my challah so I try to do it as often as possible I make challahs with 4-6 strands.
baker and a buyer. since I got a bread machine I make it more often. Usually 3 strand or round.
I am both – I love baking challah, love the way the house smells, but some weeks it is just not possible – and even though I usually bake ahead and then freeze, sometimes that freezer supply depletes and I end up buying… I do mainly pull aparts to save time – but when I braid it’s typically 3 or 4.
i bake almost every week, and when I braid I use 3 strands. A friend onces howed me a pretty way to make a braided challah and put in a loaf pan–so the top looks braided and the rest looks “loafy”. I’m afraid to try the complicated braids. 🙂
I am a baker
I love to bake, I bake every other week and make 6 challot, and freeze 3 for the following week. I usually use 4 strands, but my kids love when I make a “pull apart,” which is actually ridiculously easy!
I use my breadmachine for dough and bake challe that way. I usually make one 3 strands challe and few bilkes .
soory – bake with six strands
I alternate between baking and buying. When I bake, I like to make a four-strand challah.
I’m a buyer (we purchase through our kids’ preschool, which they do as a fundraiser), but I wish I had both the time and patience to be a challah baker!
I am a baker & make with 3 strands because I just can’t figure out how to make with more!
There are several tutorials on the internet showing how to braid with extra strands of dough. That is how I am learning.
baker and I make 3 strands, pull apart challah or challah rolls
I bake when we are having guests but usually end up buying when we don’t. I braid with 4 strands!
definitely a buyer! i like to get it from moishe’s on 2nd ave. if i’m in the neighborhood.
I bake on a weekly basis, 6 strands! Love the smell and taste of fresh Challah!!!
i’m a baker and i make 6 strands.
I bake! I use my breadmaker for small batches and my Bosch for big batches. My girls are now starting to braid with me!
This first year of my marriage I made challah once. Then for my first anniversary, my parents bought me a bread machine. Now I make it almost every week using my mom’s recipe 🙂
I am a baker! I make challah every week! My favorite is 6 braids!
Bake it! I just tried my first four strand braid this week – i usually do three!!
I am a buyer of the sweet/sticky kind, but would love to try to bake them. I used to drive 50 miles to buy these luscious challot, but the bakery was sold and the challah doesn’t taste quite as good now.
I am a buyer, and my mom and MIL are bakers. I am nervous about making a challah that compares to our bakery in Chicago…maybe this cookbook will give me that boost of confidence!
I’m a baker and a buyer! I try different recipes every time
Mostly buyer. Sometimes my wife makes it, but not frequently.
Buyer. Wish I had time to be a baker!
I am a challah buyer due to our busy schedules. We are hoping at some point to get our kids involved to bake challah each week.
I’m a “buyer” but I’m very open to the idea of being a “baker”. Perhaps a book like this would help me take the plunge?!
I’m a buyer!
I’m a baker!! I make pull-a-parts, 3 braid and 5 braid. Would love to learn different ways to braid/shape my challah!
I try to bake Challah when I have a chance! I am a 3 or 4 strand braider.
Baker and buyer – depending on how busy my week is. Usually 4 strands. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I’ve never had homemade challah only ever store bought. Would love to be able to make my own.
I’m a baker! Made my first batch of challah at 10 years old, now 6 years later I still have that love for challah – the prayers that are said, the songs I hum, the enjoyment people get, the very mixing and kneading etc. I would love to give someone special this challah book (which I do own btw) to inspire them on the specialness of challah the same way it inspired and continues to inspire me. 🙂
I forgot to add that last part – I usually braid 3 or make a woven round challah with 4
Baker! I <3 my two bread machines. I usually
make 2 batches of egg challah for Shabbos – one plain and one cinnamon.
I love baking because it soothes me. I make three strands and would love to learn how to do all different shapes.
I am a buyer, but will love to learn how to bake challot 🙂
I am a Challah Baker. I am about two weeks after I got married my husband asked if I would bake homemade Challah and I have been baking since. I love the 4 braid Challah.
I love baking Challah, as it fills the home with the special aroma that shabbos is coming. I usually make a 6-braid, but sometimes it ends up being a pull-apart of rolls when time is short.
I bake 5 pounds at a time. That will last me about 3 weeks. I do 4 strands in my challas, no matter what size challa I am making.
I used to be a buyer, now I’m a diehard baker. I usually do 3 braids and rolls.
I’m a buyer, but with this book I could be a baker 🙂
I’m a baker for now. Started baking while I was boarding in college and have been continuing that since I got married. Except I make regular wheat and spwlt challah since I have a wheat intolerance. My regular challah I 6 braid and the spelt I make into small rolls. Portion control 🙂
I used to be a buyer but my wonderful husband gave me a bread machine for Chanukah and now I am a new baker! Would love to learn different styles.
Usually a buyer. To few people to bake for at my house.
I’m a buyer in school, and a baker when I’m home and have access to a kitchen. I’m a basic, 3-strand braider.
I wish I could say I mostly bake but I actually mostly buy… but WANT to bake more. Thanks for the opportunity!
Baker 🙂 Typically 4 strands, 6 if I am feeling fancy. Also lately I have been dressing my challahs with stripes of poppy seeds and sesame seeds. They look so cute in stripes!
I buy my challahs. I hope that soon I will start baking them.
I bake and make a simple braid with 3 because that is all I know how to do. I want to learn how to do fancier braids
I bake the most amazing challah weekly! I usually do either a 4 strand braid or pull-aparts.
I’m a baker. Although every couple of weeks we buy. I mainly do breakaways in round pans.
I bake whenever I can, and the number of strands depends on my purposes. When I’m only baking for a small number of people, I make a challah from a single strand (and I make 6 of them from one batch, so I have extras for another time). If I am baking for a larger crowd, I usually do 4 strands. And sometimes, I just coil a strand for a small roll.
I’ve made it twice now first time came out great second time was flat as a pancake. I would love to bake it I just don’t have the time so I buy my challot.
I used to be baker – we lived in Norfolk, VA where there weren’t a lot of options to buy challah. I had a great recipe for water challeh, part whole wheat, using the breadmaker. But then we spent 4.5 months in Israel, then moved to Atlanta. My breadmaker and mixer were in storage, and Atlanta has several great options for kosher challah. Plus I went gluten-free. Challah is now pretty much the only bread I eat all week, and I’d rather buy something fancy from Kroger than slave over something I’m going to eat only two pieces of anyways….
I’m a challah baker, despite the myriad options for challah buying in our area. I bake vegan challah (part whole wheat, part white flour). No eggs in the recipe, but some oil. I use canola and today I mixed in a little Grapeseed oil (because that’s what I had.) I sometimes add what germ and/or ground flax seeds. Yummy and healthy. I found the recipe here: http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/special-occasions-and-entertaining/jewish-new-year/egg-free-challah/. Recipe by Rachel Ornstein Packer. I quadruple it so I can freeze some extras. I make some rolls as well, by making a tiny braided challah, then bring the 2 ends together (to kind of make a circle and bake in a muffin tin. This way I have some small extras for…whatever! I braid with 3 strands, but now I’m inspired to fiddle with that :).
i’m a buyer. would love to be a baker but no talent.
I am a baker. And I also make a 5 braid-1 for each of us.
I am a buyer but want to try and bake more often. I’ve tried in the past but to no avail my challah does not come out the way I’d like. This year I tried a recipe for the shissel challah that I was happy with but the 2nd time I did it I was not happy with it……
I’m a baker! I make 6 braiders and 4 braiders. There’s nothing like that heavenly smell that fills my home when baking challah. The taste is also better than bakery.
I am a baker of whole wheat challas. I never buy.
I am a buyer. The one time I made it it was hard as a rock. I would like to perfect my baking skills though.
I bake and braid the typical three strands but would love to try new ways!
I’m a buyer
Buy but occasionally bake. 3-4 strand. Favorite recipe thus far is honey whole wheat with cinnamon sugar top that I make for Rosh Hashanah and sukkot
I love to bake challah. I make a 3 braid , then I put it in a challah shaped loaf pan.
I bake Challah. Started 5 years ago when diagnosed with cancer (B”H fine now) to make the hafroshas challah bracha. I do it just about every Friday. I do 6 braids.
I’m a baker b/c there’s no kosher bakery where we live – I bake every week for my family and my in-laws – always 6-strand braids.
Baker usually 3 braids
I’m a baker. 3 braids, nothing fancy for me.
my husbands family is friends with the author tamar ansh@!
my father in law learns with her son! dont have this book yet though she gave us pesach cookbook for wedding present
i make my own heavenly challah!
I bake my own challahs. I love to bake and experiment in the kitchen. I only braid 3 strands because thats all i know how to do. I did weave 4 strands for rosh hashana, and i would love to learn how to do more!
at this point I am a Challah buyer/purchaser although I much prefer ‘home made
‘ Challah anytime… :)nd/or I beg for the goodwill of friends who bake amazing Challahs for an extra one now and again…;)
I am not a professional baker, but my kids think I am when I whip up banana bread and chocolate chip cookies galore!!! My absolute favorite is making challah, which I admit, I don’t always have the time to do. I like to alternate between three braided challah and pull apart!! Yum-o!! 🙂
I’m a baker! I couldn’t stomach paying four dollars per Challah when it costs just around $5-$6 to make 5 pounds! I do a six braid, but flower ones for Shavuos.
I always bake, every Friday. It just makes my house smell and feel like Shabbos. My kids especially like the tray of cinnamon buns I make with the challah dough.
I’m a wannabe baker- I try my hand at it every now and then, but would love to do it more consistently. Maybe when I’m done with grad school…
I baked when we first got married, bought for all these years after having my boys, and finally baked challah yesterday for the first time in 17 years!!!! Being a non traditional baker, I made streusel topped challot. I did four braids because it was the first video that showed in on you tube. Lol.
My husband loves when I make challah so I do it gladly for him. I love the smell of Shabbos it brings to my home. I do only a three strand braid or a skinny braid on top. Sometimes I’ll make a “shvatim” challah, with 12 balls that grow together into one big challah which can then be distributed as 12 bilkelach.
I bake – I bake traditional three strand braid when I am rushed and want to be sure I make at least three loaves – i bake three to six strand for holidays and often, if the batch is huge will make 3 strand, six strand and round challot. All of this baking is somewhat in the past – I am now working two demanding jobs as well as completing my second book.
Sadly, I’m a buyer. I’m trying to figure out how to have the time and energy to be a baker, and cook more in general.
I’m mostly a baker. I make a 4-strand challah … 3 never looks right, and I don’t have enough fingers to handle more.
I’m a baker and I usually do three but would love to learn different techniques and different recipes.
I’m a buyer even at $5 since I rarely have time to bake. My mother made the best challah in the world but she no longer bakes either. Maybe one day I will try my hand at it.
Challah here is also $5 each, so I bake every other week. I only ever do 4 strands (and small rolls).
I also use challah pans to get the extra height. It makes them look and taste better.
I’m a baker for 50% of the time…and a butcher and candlestick maker the other times. And when I bake I make 4 stands (or 3) in oval loaf pans sometimes I make lovely round loaves after braiding 3 or 4 times.
I’m a baker! I make 6 braids and then a bunch of small rolls for the kids to snack on before Shabbos.
I have spent years perfecting my challah and have promised my daughter and daughter-in-law that I would leave them the recipe in my will. I will keep making challahs as long as Hashem wills it. I would love to perfect my braiding techniques and usually fall back on 3 or 4 strands. I also make challah rolls.
I am a buyer, but I would like to change that to a baker.
I am a baker when I have time and if not, a buyer. I do six strands, although I have tried an EIGHT braider abd it came out beautifulet!
Since I live in Fort Knox, KENTUCKY I am a BAKER!! Not only do I make EGG FREE Challah ( my husband holds with Egg Challah is cake an no longer a BREAD)! I also bake Gluten Free Oat Challah (my daughter and I work better Gluten Free! I make a large batch every other week or so and freeze my Challah’s since I have 3 kids under 5! Good Shabbos!
I do three braids for my EGG FREE water Challah, and for the Gluten Free Challah I cannot braid it sadly 🙁
Michall – Maybe we can swap vegan recipes? See my post above. MJ
Correction: and, beautiful 😉
I live in Nashville, where buying is sometimes not even an option! So I bake, although I often don’t make my own dough (Kroger frozen dinner rolls!). I will usually do a couple of three braids, and then a couple of one rope round challahs, especially if I’m running low on time!
I make six strands 2 different ways. Long and round shaped.
Four strands make a pretty shape….think lanyards from camp days. Same crossing of the strands. Lots of fun with kids to try different shapes. We use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place on top of the Challot.
I usually buy but recently I tried baking and it wasn’t to bad so I bake every so often! I braid 6 .
I’m buyer, Bake very occasionally. Would love to Bake more often.
i have a bread machine to mix, then I braid, egg, top, and bake!. yum! I have an awesome recipe too, sweeeeeeeet!
I have been a buyer for a while, because I was scared of baking challah (or any bread). But with the prices going thru the atmosphere (forget the roof), I have learned to bake challah and other breads. Sometimes it is not perfect, but … Very often from a batch of dough I would make 3 challot for Shabbat, and the rest into challah rolls, which make great sandwiches.
Thank you.
Shabbat Shalom
Sorry, I forgot to mention that usually I do 5 0r 7-braiders, although I have no idea why.
For a long time we would buy Yummy/Soft/Chewy rolls for our Shabbos table, then my wife started baking her own half whole wheat – half reg wheat rolls. I recently bought her a bread maker, so we may start making our challa/rolls as in it.
I’m generally a buyer- I pick up Trader Joe’s Challah Rolls which are light, fluffy, and slightly sweet. Definitely big enough for just the two of us. I’ve made challah a few times, and I just did simple buns and three braided loaves.
I am a baker when i have the energy and a buyer when i dont!!!! I don’t like feeling forced into making challah because i only like to put good thoughts into it so if im not in the mood, its better to buy!
buyer
I bake white spelt challah and I braid 3 strands. I use the 5lb bag and get about 7 loaves each time.
I’m a baker, although I have on occasion been a buyer. I make the dough on my lunch break, and my 11-year-old daughter braids and bakes it when she gets home from school. My house always smells so good when I get home!
i make 3 braids
I am a baker- when we lived in Columbus getting Challah was impossible or expensive pending the year… so I learned to bake and now even though buying is easy with many options I don’t like the store bought stuff, yuck! So I bake every week. 3 strands, never learned differently.
When I’m not overwhelmed by the Thursday night cleaning, I put a dough recipe in the machine and then braid (3 strands) and bake, Friday afternoon before Shabbat. About 50% of the time, I buy but the kids really groan about it.
I bake mostly and only on rare occasions, I buy. I do a 4-braid.
I use my bread machine to knead and mix the dough, then I will do 2 or 3 three braid challahs. Sometimes I will also do little knot rolls. Last year for my grandson’s bris I baked a 12 braid challah!
I’m a baker, although I almost never make actual classic challah. I usually make sourdough from Peter Reinhart’s The Bread Baker’s Apprentice.
I bake 10 lbs at a time and freeze so we can have homemade challah every week and mostly use 4 strands. Someone once told me that hand kneading was Gods way of preventing arthritis… We will see
I’m sorry to admit that I am a buyer. I have never had the time, inspiration, and knowledge all at the same time to bake challah. Would love to try! Maybe this book would do the trick,
Sometimes I make and sometimes I buy…when I make I braid with 4
I bake, self-taught, 3 braid. Dough doesn’t always work. I love this cookbook author but have only borrowed this book from the library. Would love to win a copy!! Thanks
I am a Challah baker for many, many years since my sister, who is the best Challah baker ever, shared her recipe and showed me how to braid. Mostly I braid with 6 but recently I have been making a square pull-apart with 9 parts (3×3). It comes out beautiful and tastes yummy.
I am a challah purchaser from way back, as was my mother before me. I would love to learn how to make, braid and bake challahs, but certain health issues have prevented that from happening. Then again, I understand that a bread machine can do all of the kneading for you, so who knows? I do know that whenever my family receives homemade challahs, we always consider it a treat.
Does it count if it’s my husband who’s the baker and the braider??? We use the bread machine for the dough, then let rise, shape and bake!
Baker!
And I use 6 strands. I love how high and pretty it looks.
Baker. Six strands.
I bake because it shows my husband that I truly love him ( he only likes homemade) I braid 6 but love your idea of representing family will try it
I am now a baker, using a bread machine and I braid with 3. I learned how to do 6 but them forgot how!
I am a wanna-be baker. Maybe this book would help!
I am a reluctant buyer. I enjoy so much the challah my favorite Rebbitzin makes. It is so yummy. I really want to learn!!!
Buyer during the school year, baker in the summer. Usually 3 strands, though I’ve tried more — hoping this summer my daughter will bake with me!
I am a challah buyer but I occasionally bake a 3 strand loaf. My FAVORITE challah to buy is zomick’s challah from the five towns in long island. Best challah ever!
I am a buyer who wishes she had the time to be a baker!
I am a buyer! I love to eat it but I do not make it myself!
I love to bake Challah- I do four strand braids.
I used to bake with 6 strands but now my daughter bakes and gives me hers.
i am a baker…at least for the last 3 weeks!! i make 2 3 braiders and 2 4 braiders…
Was a Challah baker then became a buyer and becoming a baker again! 3 strand 🙂
I am typically, most definitely, a baker (although I bake usually on Sunday and then freeze the challot until needed). I braid with 3, and actually usually make a lot of small-medium challot at a time.
I love to bake but don’t always have the time. I make 6 strand.
We used to buy always, unless I was in my 9th month. I say “we” because I would make the dough and my husband would braid them. He used to work in a bakery so it takes him 30 seconds to do vs. me who just never learned it, even after many many tutorials.
After each child was born, we would try to keep up the baking, because I have a great recipe that everyone loves. After a few weeks/months, life would get too busy and we would give up.
I am just realizing now that we just celebrated my 3rd child’s first birthday, which means we have been baking for over a year! I plan on continuing 🙂 About 2 weeks ago, I started attempting the 4 braid. I am not great at it, but I am getting better 🙂 I like the idea of the 5 braid, and the reasoning behind it. I also have 3 children so I like the symbolism. Do you have a tutorial on your website? Thanks for all your work to bring us the best deals!
I love baking! I learned how in high school and have been baking challah,ever since. I make a 3 braid. Someday I will learn the 6. I know bake every Friday for my family, friends and 2 Reform Jewish congregations.
I am a baker – at least I was until my oven broke. We are finally getting an oven and hope to start baking challah again. I have been baking challah for the past 30 some years but it was not until we moved to Israel 13 years ago that my challah came out consistantly delicious every week. Before that there was always something – to dry – not baked enough – did not rise correctly, etc.
Since our oven broke my daughter who is 18 and has down syndrome goes to a neighbor on the yishuv where we live to help with the Challah making. She love to do this. I hope she will love making challah with her mom as much.
Oh, I braid 3 but love the idea of a strand for husband and child which will make 6 for me.
Aviva in Israel
Buyer. I would love to be a baker, but somehow it doesn’t happen.
would love to consider myself a baker but realisticlly w being in school and having two small children i actually manage to bake mich less than i would like- i find the process very special (especially since i have a machine to do the kneading for me…) i love having my daughter join me:) he is starting to learn to braid the simplest three strand way… i do boh 4 and 6 and prefer 4- i like the way u put it- one for eachchild and one for my husband n me:)
I am definitely a baker and I do it by hand as I don’t have a bread machine. I typically make challah once a month and prefer the the look of a four braid but I have done six as well. I began making challah in the merit of refuah for a very sick little boy in my community. However, being single I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do with all of the challah that was filling up my freezer. It wasn’t until I was at a meal at the Rabbi’s where one of his children mentioned that they missed having homemade challah (I guess it had been a busy few weeks) that I realized I could bring challah to my host instead of the typical wine or dessert option. It’s been about six months and now a few of the people who host me always ask if I’m able to bring challah.
a mix – love to bake, but dont always have the time (even with a bread machine) so then i buy
I am a buyer who buys 2 loaves a week. We love it. We like round Challahs for holidays.
Now that I have retired I want to become a baker. I just made an Angel Food Cake for the first time (ala Martha Stewart) for Shavuot.
I am a baker I don’t like bought challah (although on occasion I have bought)! I usually make round for convenience but I do 4 or 6 braids and yom tov I usually do basket weave. This is a great cookbook and I have have wanted a copy since it came out.
I bake and love it. I do three four or six
I love making challah and always braid two long strips which is called a four braided challah. And this challah cook book is ,indeed, a fabulous book with a lot more than “just” challah recipies inside!
I am a baker, but generally not a braider. My children and I (or sometimes I alone) shape the challah dough into something related to the parasha. After hamotzei the guests have to guess what the shape/connection is. Sometimes the shape doesn’t hold well and guessing is hard, but it guarantees the meal starts with words of Torah. To see other Torah projects I do with my children check out kosherkidz.blogspot.com
We’re buyers
I am a baker and 3 strands– 😀
I don’t even have the option to buy in the country we live now, but I’ve always baked. I have done three, four, and six strands. But since my dh doesn’t cut the challah (he rips), I usually do pull-aparts. You can do them in shapes to match the parsha or a birthday, or some other occasion, and it’s fun to eat!
I bake and buy. It depends on the week 🙂 When I bake, I usually make loafs as the spelt recipe I use is not braiding friendly.
I flip flop. Currently a buyer because I’m too busy at work, but I’m hoping I can convince my daughter to take over baking soon.
These days, I’m a buyer more than a baker. Every week I try to find a way to get back into the baking mode, but it hasn’t happened yet. When I do bake, I normally do 6 strands.
When I have a chance to I bake otherwise I buy.
Would love to win one for my wife
Buyer…one day hope to become a baker!
I bake Challah almost every week. I am always looking for new recipes and new shapes to make. Would love a cookbook like this!!
I am a baker and buyer. I need some more pointers on braiding. i do a 2 braid/twist that works well for me.
Bake!!! Just learned the 6 braid!
Def a buyer
Buyer but occasionally I do bake 6 strands.
I bake whole wheat challah. I usually do 3 braid
At heart I’m a baker. Especially challah. And I usually braid four strands. But I just don’t have the time to do it regularly. So I usually end up a buyer. Sigh.
Before I got married, I use to help my mom make challah. Now I buy, but hopefully will start baking soon.
The dough in the bread machine comes out amazing. I like doing 4 braids. Haven’t yet figured out the bakery secret to super airy challah.
I bake my own, 3 strands.
I’m a buyer, I tried to bake once and it came our rock hard lol
My hubby does the challah baking.
I love baking challah by hand! It doesn’t always happen though so I buy sometimes too! I braid anywhere from
3-6 strands depending in my mood.
I just moved into my own place and would love to learn to make Challah!
I bake and I’ll do a few 6 strands each batch and the rest little kaiser rolls, as I hate throwing out leftovers!
Well, I used to be the baker, and then my husband took over. Now I can’t bake a decent challah to save my life! We always do 3 strands only because we haven’t ventured into the larger strand territory yet. But they sure look beautiful. Would LOVE this cookbook.
I love baking challah every week.
I always put a little extra honey and white raisins in my challah.
I use a bread machine and it is an easy wonderful way for my to get ready for Shabbat.
I also love that my family loves my challah!
I bake and I’ll do a few 6 strands for each batch and the rest little kaiser rolls, as I hate throwing out leftovers!
My husband bakes delicious challah every week in four strands.
I find the thought of challah-making very overwhelming. Then when I finally make it I think, oh that wasnt so bad!! So I have only made my own about 5-10 times!! Would love to start making on a regular basis.
Baker – usually use six strands.
I am a baker via the bread machine..I would love to learn how to braid the challah..I am a pull away girl..
I am a baker and I braid 4 strands.
Sometimes bake, sometimes buy. When I bake- I keep it simple with just 3 strands.
Baker all the way. 6 or 3 and the kids help too!
I’m a baker. I’d love to start baking challah for my Shabbos table each week .
I am a buyer who would like to be a baker. Coincidentally my oldest daughter just asked this week if she could bake challot. It was such a pleasure to see my two daughters baking and braiding together. They made several varieties, 3 and 6 strand, round, individual rolls etc. I hope this is just the beginning!
I make challah, but have never been successful at making beautiful loaves, so my husband does the braiding (usually three braid).
We used to buy challah when we lived in New York near many bakeries now the past two years I’ve been baking yummy challah now that we moved to Connecticut and there are no bakeries around. I love making challah it comes out so yummy my husband loves it too! I make the usual 3 braided challis!
Nothing in the world tastes as good as freshly baked challah. Can’t wait to see this book and its new ideas.
I love my bread machine for making challah and I would love to expand on the recipes I have for it to try something new!
I don’t usually bake challah but I would love own this cookbook about challah maybe it would come out great.
My almost 11 year old makes the most beautiful 6 stranded challot she learned from her Savta.
She would love a book on Challa making.
I bake two strands, flowers, and round Challah. I also baked a eggless Challah from a recipe I found on line and it came out great!
I used to be a baker, but since I started working full time again I’ve become much more of a buyer. I would love to start baking again, and hope to have the time to do so in the summer when school is out (I teach). When I do bake I vary between 3 and 6 strands, depending on how many guests we’re having.
I always bake it!
I make my dough in the bread machine, then braid & bake the loaves. (I found a couple extra punch-downs/rises before braiding makes a better challah.) I braid 4 strands – I’m sort of OCD about stuff like this, and it’s easier to get four equal sections than three!
challah baker
6 braids
I bake Challah with my preschoolers every Friday.
My husbands grandmother makes challah for the family every week. They are so delicious. She does 4 strands.
I bake every week, 6 braid most of the time.
Baker, six strands. But I leave the braiding to my daughter whenever I can.
I usually buy but when I’m feeling ambitious I’ll bake. I’ve tried a few recipes but have yet to gain the confidence I have when baking cakes or cookies. I guess I’ll get there one day.
I am a buyer which is why I could definitely use a challah cookbook like this!
would love to win. Bake challah every week.
I’m a baker. I usually put my challahs in loaf pans or round pans for chagim. I also only bake whole wheat nowadays.
I used to be a challah buyer but so wanted to become a baker. I decided to try one year for Rosh Hashanah and the whole family was hooked! It wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought it would be, made the house smell divine and was much more delicious than anything store bought!
Thanks.
I love to bake challah (6 or 3 braids) but rarely have the chance. My sister makes more often and we can’t get enough of it! I would love the gluten-free recipe in this book for my brother who has Celiac (rather, I am sure he would love if I got this cookbook and the gluten free recipe!).
I bake 4 strand challahs and one strand rolls. The one strand looks braided, but it’s a twist.
I have never baked challah but would love to learn
I am defiantly a baker love to bake cakes bread challa always on the hunt for new recepies
I failed at every baking attempt for many years. Shopping for my first Shabbat at home in Palm Beach, I was delighted to find that the local Publix sold beautiful challahs. As I was setting the table on Friday afternoon, I realized the challah had no hechsher!! Who ever heard of unkosher challah?! (Forgive me. I grew up in Brooklyn.) Thankfully, I located some frozen Kineret loaves in the freezer section. Of course there was no time for the hours of rising required, so my guests (including the synagogue president – groan) were treated to two small, hard challah loaves.
Since buying challah required a forty-five minute drive, I decided it was time to nail down the baking thing for good. After a year baking every Friday with my preschool class, I was baking the most delicious challah ever. And ever since, I can hardly stomach the taste of store-bought challah.
So, I’m a baker. Four strands.
I’m a buyer. I am ashamed to say I’ve never baked challah, though my husband does from time to time. I would love to learn how though.
When my kids were young I was definitely a challah buyer, with the exception of Yomim Tovim when I would get the kids involved in baking. Once I had more time, I became a challah baker. I enjoy the process, the smell and the taste (as well as the compliments when eaten). I generally make 3 braids, with a smaller braid on top or I like to do round pull aparts. I often add vanilla sugar to the dough and sprinkle some on top of the egg wash before baking. It’s a big hit.
I like to make Challah with 4 braids.
I am a buyer, having only baked Challah from scratch 3 times in my life, but would like to become more of a baker. Maybe this book will help 🙂
I bake, using a breadmaker, with the dough cycle. I’m still perfecting my technique and always trying new recipes. When I have time, I do 4 strands but when I want to be fast, it’s 3 strands all the way. 🙂
I learned to bake Challah from my Bubbie.She never followed a recipe,but it was delicious.I now use a bread machine,sometimes I buy Challah at BJ’s.
I am a buyer.
I baked challah just once and it was not successful, but I am an optimistically looking forward to try again if I win a book!
My husband is the challah baker. I would love to give him this as a gift.
I bake but I use the bread maker to make the dough. I only know how to braid with 3.
DEfinitely bake! 4 strands…
I just started bread making and cant wait to try to make a Challah.
I am a challah buyer but winning the cookbook may change my ways!
I usually buy. Would love to have more time to experiment with Challah baking.
I wish I was a baker, but I’m a buyer. Hoping one day to be a baker.
I’m a baker – I generally do three strands – though for Rosh Hashana I do 4 or 6
I bake 5 lbs every week. I have tried more than 3 braids but have only successfully done 3.
I am a buyer who has attempted to bake but has had no luck. I have hopes that one day that will change:)
I’m a baker, and I typically do 4-strands, but occasionally get lazy and do a crown in a round pan.
I am a baker. At present I use three or four strands. I would love to find out about more strands and different flavors.
I am a baker! My kids and husband are very opinionated when it comes to challah and most definitely prefer home baked. As it turns out so do I, for taste and because it really makes the house smell like Shabbat. I can only do 3 strands now but am working on learning more intricate braiding.
I am a baker, I make the dough in my bread machine and make a 6 braided challah.
I am a baker, however not so good at braiding challah.
I’m both. But my 11 yr old daughter does the challah baking now. She started about a year ago when she was “bored” one Thursday night. While she has done a chamsa and a Magen David, we usually stick to a 3 braid.
I don’t have time to bake but my husband love home baked challah. We are lucky enough to get homebaked challah from family members