You gotta try this!

If you have a bread machine and use it to make bread dough or if you are feeling adventurous this weekend, try this:

Meredith's Challah Bread
Adapted from "Best Bread Machine Recipes" by Gold Medal

Makes 1 loaf

¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon water
1 egg
2 tablespoons margarine or butter, softened
2 cups Gold Medal white flour
1 ¼ cups Gold Medal wheat flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoons bread machine yeast

1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon poppy or sesame seeds if desired


Measure carefully, placing all ingredients except egg yolk, cold water and poppy seed in bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.

Select Dough/ Manual cycle. Do not use Delay cycle.

Remove dough from pan, using lightly floured hands. Cover dough and let rest 10 minutes on lightly floured surface.

Grease large cookie sheet. *Divide dough into thirds. Roll each third into 13-inch rope. Place ropes side by side; braid ropes gently and loosely, starting at the middle of the braid. Pinch ends to seal; tuck ends under braid. Place on cookie sheet. Cover and let rise in warm place about 45 minutes or until double. Dough is ready if finger indentation remains when touched.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix egg yolk and cold water; brush over loaf. Sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds if desired. Bake about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

*If you don't want braided bread, this recipe works just fine to place dough on cookie sheet in a ball. I have even divided dough into 2 balls and baked on a cookie sheet. It does not work as 2 small braided loaves. It also tastes great baked on a stone baking sheet. Makes a great thick pizza crust.