Challah the first...
Just your basic challah bread. The recipe is courtesy of Artisan Breads in 5 Minutes a Day. The thing I am really loving about this book is that the doughs just hang out in the fridge until you want to bake them. For this challah, I grabbed a big wad of dough, quickly divided it into four pieces, rolled some snakes, and braided the dough in the 5 minutes before our dinner was ready. After it rose, I baked it, and we had challah for a late night snack (and even better for breakfast the next morning!).
Look at that soft, yummy interior. Absolutely divine!
Challah the second (also known as the most delicious challah ever)...
Hmmm... this challah looks a little different in coloration than the first one. Let's look inside...
Holy cow!!! Is that cinnamon-sugar swirl challah?!?! Oh yes it is!!!
This brilliant idea came to me while thinking about bread as I was trying to fall asleep. I thought, what if I rolled out the challah sections into flat rectangle-ish shapes, then spread on some cinnamon-sugar, then rolled my snakes, and braided the whole thing together! In my vision, the swirls were a little more perfectly circular, but who cares, it tasted like heaven!!
As is (as pictured here) or toasted and smeared with butter, this was the greatest laying in bed thinking about bread idea I've ever had. Next time, I'll have to make it on the weekend so that we can make it into french toast!
There's a cooking store near me that probably has big dough storage containers. I was having a lot of fun with that book, and now that it's (maybe) starting to look like it will be cooling, I may have to break out my copy again. I'm curious: are you using a baking stone? I broke the last one I had, and I was never able to keep it clean, so I was humidifying the oven but not bothering with that part. Turned out okay, but your breads look better than mine did!
I made challah this weekend too! I did the six strand braid and for the first time EVER I had a completely even braid. I usually get a funky lump at the beginning or end. Isn't it awesome to make stuff you are proud of (and it tastes yummy too)
The cinnamon challah looks amazing! (Did I mention the jealous-of-bread thing? Yes? ok, good.)