This week’s bread is sourdough challah. While it might be typically found in Jewish bakeries, it’s one that I’ve enjoyed making for many years. It’s a *slightly* sweet bread that is enriched with eggs and just a bit of brown sugar. This version is also naturally fermented so no added yeast at all! I love making it in part because I enjoy eating it, but in part because it’s a braided bread that can be arranged in many different ways! Sometimes I get fancy with a 5 or 6 strand loaf, or weave it into a round; other times it’s the plump 3 strand braid that wins me over. We’ve been tearing off great hunks and eating it plain this week, or slathered with butter and jam. If you’re lucky enough to have some survive for a few days, it makes outstanding french toast!
Always on tap is my house sourdough, made with freshly-milled grains and fermented for 24 hours. If you’re on the fence about sourdough, or you haven’t had one you like, give mine a try. If you don’t like it, I’ll make you something else – on the house!
Challah and house sourdough both also make wonderful hostess gifts, if you’re headed out of town or joining friends for dinner.
I often like to plan some of our meals around the breads I’m baking. It gives me some inspiration for meals and lets me have one main part of a meal already covered. That really helps on busy days! This week, challah will be a breakfast feature – I have an egg bake on the menu that I mix up overnight and bake in the morning. Challah with butter and jam is a perfect pairing! It fills everyone up, and usually leaves us at least a few leftovers.
Orders can be placed on hillsdalehearth.com/shop/, and are open from Fridays through Tuesdays. If I reach a limit to what I can bake, I may close orders a bit sooner so order early and often! Payment is by cash, check, or cashapp on pickup, or by credit card when you order.
Sourdough challah and house sourdough orders should be in by Tuesday, February 13th and will both be ready for pickup on Thursday, February 15th and Friday, February 16th.
Please let me know if you have special requests, or any questions about orders or bread!