I was intrigued when Dr. Beth Ricanati (well, her publicist) approached me about reading an advance copy of Ricanati’s memoir, Braided: A Journey of a Thousand Challahs. (She Writes Press)
#1. I’m a major challah baking fanatic. I wrote about my own challah baking journey at On Being’s site.
#2. I enjoyed the memoir.
#3. One lucky reader of this post will win a brand new copy of Ricanati’s book.
The book starts with the recipe Ricanati has been using since she started baking challah. I always love seeing other people’s recipes. As it happens, mine uses one more egg, 1 more cup of flour, 1/4th cup more sugar, for sure more salt, more water, and more oil. If you’re interested, I can share mine via email. (ninabadzinblog@gmail.com)
Back to the book! I appreciated Ricanati’s message that stopping our busy lives each week to do something as personal, messy, and heartfelt as baking bread can save your life. It was in the thick of Ricanati’s stressful life as a doctor in a big hospital and a mom of three when she realized she needed to do something to relax. She shares the personal journey that led her to bake challah every Friday for ten years as well as the history of challah. She also shares her Jewish background, which is a lot like mine. (Raised in Reform Judaism and while not a fully Torah observant Jew now, she, like me, finds herself attracted to certain traditions/customs in more religious circles.) We also both went on the same Israel trip for moms, but not at the same time. AND we both knead our dough by hand, which is, in my opinion, the most laborious and healing part of the process.
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23 Responses
I am also an avid challah baker who wishes I had more time to bake. I made 14 challahs for Rosh Hashanah! But I am on the fence about hand kneading vs my trust KitchenAid. I would love to read this memoir.
I’m sorry you didn’t win, but thanks for entering! I’m impressed with your output of 14! I am exhausted after my monthly batches of 7 loaves. (I’ve never used the kitchenaid to knead. I don’t think the dough would fit in there.)
I would love to win a copy of this book! Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!
You are the winner, Hillary! Please email me your mailing address and I will forward it on to the author. ninabadzinblog@gmail.com
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
I would love to read this book. Love the idea of it being therapeutic!
Beks! I love that you entered and I’m sorry you didn’t win.
I would love to win a copy of your book. There is nothing better than the smell of a freshly bakes challah. And if it looks amazing, even better!
I’m sorry you didn’t win, but thanks for entering!
I would love to win a copy of the book. Maybe I can finally learn how to make chalks!
I’m sorry you didn’t win, but thanks for entering!
I’m intrigued by the concept of baking to relax a person. You know i’m always looking for a new (and successful!!!) way to relax.
I’m sorry you didn’t win, but thanks for entering!
As someone who had her own challah-baking journey, I am so looking forward to reading this! Thanks, Nina.
I’m sorry you didn’t win, Merri, but thanks for entering!
I would absolutely love to read this book – and attempt the making Challah
I’m sorry you didn’t win, but thanks for entering! And go for it with the challah baking! It looks way more intimidating than it actually is.
I’ve come to challah baking later in life. Would love a copy of this book.
I’m sorry you didn’t win, but thanks for entering!
My husband is the challah baker of our family. He took over the task when I went back to school, in my 40s and with 4 children. He started simple and has perfected his recipe but not quite the braid. I think we both would enjoy this book!
Your husband is the best! I’m sorry you didn’t win, but thanks for entering!
I’d love to read this! I discovered the challah baking isn’t nearly as intimidating as I’d thought last year.
I’m sorry you didn’t win, but thanks for entering! And I so agree that it’s easier than it looks. I just said that to someone else above. It IS work, but I think people are very put off by dealing with yeast. Once you’ve done it, it’s not hard.