Challah Bread

My New Years resolution has been to learn to bake. My neighbor gave me this recipe for Challah Bread. While time consumptive it is very easy and fun. I have added her traditional braid instructions, but you can also make short lengths rolled and knot it up in a nice manor and make rolls. Both are delicious.

What you will need:
1 pkg - active dry yeast
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 ¼ C warm water
5 – 5 ½ C flour
1t salt
1 egg yolk beaten with 1T water
¼ C honey
¼ C oil


In a large bowl dissolve yeast in water. Let sit until yeast bubbles (about 15 min.)
Stir in salt, honey, oil and eggs.
Gradually beat in about 4 ½ C flour to make a stiff dough
Turn dough onto floured board and knead until smooth and satiny (15 – 20 min.) adding flour as needed to prevent sticking.
Turn dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place 1 ½ - 2 hours


Punch dough down
Knead briefly on lightly floured board to release air.
Set aside about ¾ C of dough and cover it
Divide remaining dough into 4 equal parts.
Roll each to about 20” long
Braid on a greased baking sheet as follows:
Pick up strand on right; bring it over next strand, under the 3rd strand and over the 4th strand on right until braid is completed. Pinch ends together.
Roll the reserved dough into a 15” long strip and cut into 3 pieces
Braid the 3 pieces and lay on top of large braid
Let rise in a warm place until bread almost doubles about 1 - 1 ½ hours


Use soft brush and spread egg yolk and water mixture evenly over braids
Bake @ 350° for 27 – 30 minutes
Bread is done when you tap and it sounds hollow

Nana's Bananas

These banana snacks are truly one of my favorite childhood memories. My best friend as a very little girl had a Nana that she generously shared with me. When we were at Nana's house she would give us these Banana treats and now that my son is old enough to try them I was so excited when she shared the recipe with me.

What you will need
1 1/2 cups of Peanuts finely crushed.
1/4 cup honey
6 teaspoons peanut butter
2 bananas

It is easiest to do this over wax paper.

Cut Bananas into 3 short pieces slice each piece in half lengthwise. Between each half spread 1 teaspoon of peanut butter. Dip seam in peanuts. Spread honey around outside of banana and dip to cover in peanuts. Wrap in wax paper. Freeze. Serve frozen!