Challah Bread Recipie

After much trial and error this is the recipe that has worked best for me.

Bread Machine Challah

Add the following to the bread machine.

3-2/3 Cups of All purpose flour
1-1/2 Teaspoon of salt
1/3 Cup canola oil
1/3 Cup demera sugar (you can use any brown or regular sugar)
3 large eggs
3/4 Cup of warm water
1teaspoon of quick acting yeast

Optional
1 egg, lightly beaten
poppy seeds or sesame seeds

If you want to braid the bred use the 'dough' setting on the machine and remove the dough as soon as the machine finishes the cycle. Divide dough into two pieces. Divide each half into three pieces. Roll into strands and braid together. Cover and put into warm oven for 30 minutes to rise. Brush with a lightly beaten egg and sprinkle with poppy seeds or sesame seeds then bake at 375F for 30 minutes.

If you would like a loaf of bread to use for slicing, sandwiches etc. Just put all the ingredients in the machine and use the regular cycle and you will get a nice soft, yellow coloured loaf that is quite nice.

Shortbread

Today I made Shortbread. Here is the recipie:

1 Cup Butter @ room temp.
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract (optional)
1/2 Cup Rice Flour
1 1/2 - 1 3/4 Cups all purpose flour

Directions:
In a large bowl, cream butter. Gradually add sugar and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in rice flour and all purpose flour.
Turn onto a floured surface and knead lightly drawing in more flour until dough begins to crack. Form into a ball and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutter or into bars and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet. Transfer to cooling rack until completely cool. Store in tins or freezer.
Makes approximately 40 cookies.

Taste Test Update:
These turned out a bit on the dry side. I am going to try this recipie again using a bit more butter and a little less flour and see what happens.

Apple Hermits

I am baking these today, and they are really, really good!

INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped apples
1 cup raisins
2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon milk

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Mix in sugar and egg. Stir in flour mixture, and mix thoroughly. Fold in nuts, apples, and raisins.
Drop by rounded teaspoon onto prepared cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
In a small bowl, mix confectioners' sugar with milk to make a thin glaze. Drizzle over cooled cookies.