Challah Bread

A jewish bread

• Ready In: 3 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 2  cups milk or 2  cups water
• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine or 1⁄3 cup  vegetable oil
• 1⁄3 cup sugar
• 2 (1 ounce) packages dry yeast
• 3  eggs
• 8  cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1  egg
• 2  teaspoons poppy seeds

Directions

1. In saucepan, combine milk, butter and sugar; heat to 110 degrees. Remove from heat. Stir in yeast and cool 10 minutes.
2. Pour mixture into large bowl; beat and add flour, eggs and salt. knead. Cover and let rise 1 hour.
3. Punch down and divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 9x13 in rectangles. Cut each rectangle lengthwise into 3 strips, braid 3 strips together and transfer to separate greased baking sheet.
4. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
6. In small bowl, beat 1 egg. Brush loaves with egg and then sprinkle poppy seeds evenly over both loaves.
7. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Bread should sound hollow when tapped.