love and lion: GIFT GUIDE: HAND LETTERED RECIPES

Most thoughtful holiday gift ever!

Etsy shop, Alyssa Makes Something, creates custom prints from your own recipes! Just send her the recipe, and she will turn it into a treasured family heirloom. You can even get a digital copy to share with the whole family or even print on tea towels- wouldn't that be cute? Her hand lettered, watercolor recipes are the sweetest (pun intended) gifts you could give. Turnaround time is 1-2 weeks for the original print and 3-4 weeks for the digital version. It's first come first serve, so get on it, people! Alyssa is a working mama just like us. We love supporting small businesses and momtrepreneurs!

I had this challah print above made for my mom. It is the BEST. The recipe is actually by our close family friend, Carol, so of course, she and her daughters are getting a print too! Carol made this challah for everyone at my wedding. Like every single table got one. Seriously. Not only do I love eating it, but I love the memories we have surrounding it. Friday nights with family and friends, eating this soft, chewy bread, spread with butter or dipped in honey... drool. Every time my mom would make challah, the whole house was filled with the smell of baking bread! That's probably my favorite smell in the whole world. That and my newborn babies. Equally delicious.

Full recipe below.

RECIPE:

Mom's Famous Challah

INGREDIENTS

2 tsp honey
1 pkg yeast
1/2 c vegetable oil
1/4 c sugar
2 tsp salt
2 eggs
4 c bread flour
1 egg yolk

Dissolve 1 tsp honey in 1/2 c. warm water in large mixing bowl which has been rinsed with hot water.

Sprinkle yeast on top, mix, let stand 10 min.
Stir in oil, 1/2 c. warm water, sugar, 1 tsp honey, salt, eggs, and 2 c. flour. Beat well.

Stir in remaining 2 c. flour. Dough will be sticky.

Knead 2-3 minutes with a bread hook attachment or turn onto a floured board and knead.

Round up in greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 2 hrs. Gently put finger in top; if dough stays indented, it's finished. If it bounces back, continue to rise.

Punch down, cover, let rise again 45 min.

Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Divide into three sections and loosely braid*, tucking in the ends.

Cover, rise 20-30 minutes.

Brush with beaten egg yolk and 1 tsp water. Optional: sprinkle with poppy seeds.

Bake 400 degrees 15 min. Put a toothpick in the center of a braid and check for doneness. My mom and I like to under bake it just a tad so it doesn't dry out- we like it a tiny bit gooey but it's all to your preference.

Eat! Delicious with butter and/or honey. Perfect the next morning for french toast.

*Traditional challahs are braided in one row as shown in the watercolor print. On holidays or special occasions, it's made into a circle. I actually prefer to bake in a circle because the width is consistent all the way around and will bake more evenly.
*I used THIS hair tutorial for a 4 strand braid lol!!