Chronicle poll results: Making challah
We asked our readers if they make their own challah. Here's what they said.
Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Do you make your own challah?” Of the 203 people who responded, 17% said, “Yes, regularly”; 17% said, “Occasionally”; 22% said, “I’ve tried it once or twice”; and 44% said, “Never.” Comments were submitted by 55 people. A few follow.
Homemade is best because the aroma fills the home in preparation for Shabbat.
I wish I did more often. I have friends who make a weekly creative loaf and I’m envious.
I love to cook. Baking, not so much. There are so many local options for buying good challah and only so many hours in a day.
My husband and I bake challah together. I make the dough, he makes the four ropes and I braid it into a round. It’s very satisfying for a number of reasons.
No, but I make my own gefilte fish.
I make my own sourdough spelt challah. I can’t stomach those cloyingly sweet commercial challahs.
My grandparents had a kosher bakery in Skokie, Illinois. Baking challah is genetic.
I’m proud to say that weekly challah baking has become a family tradition that is now being practiced by children and grandchildren as well! Dor L’ Dor.
My husband and I both do, for ourselves and our synagogue, for Shabbats, holidays, and b’nai mitzvahs if asked. I even makes special ones with chocolate chips, cinnamon, chocolate — all sorts!
I don’t make it but I make it disappear when I buy it.
I would love to but never have time.
My grandmother grew up in a bakery in Poland. She made the best challah ever.
I’m not good at bread making. I do know how to make pizza crust!
The funny thing is that I looked in all these Jewish cookbooks and tried every challah recipe in them, looked at countless challah recipes online from varies Jewish sources, and do you know where I found the best recipe? “The Joy of Cooking.”
It always seem to taste better when someone else (especially someone who is very experienced with bread making!) makes it.
I never learned to bake. I wish I had, but I was responsible for so many things at work, there never seemed to be time. Now that I’m retired and there’s time to learn, I can’t find anyone to teach me.
There is nothing like homemade challah right out of the oven.
I know my role in the kitchen: It is to eat the challah! PJC
comments