Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, starts a week from today and we are gearing up!
Two things I make annually without fail are Honey Cake and round challah. Traditionally the bread is baked round at this time of year to symbolize the cycle of a new year beginning. There are a lot of apples and honey involved in these holidays – apples for fall and honey to sweeten the new year ahead. I love using pomegranates too because they are so festively autumn.
For the challah, I use my recipe that’s in my first book (it’s the last recipe if you have the book) and I make it in a standup mixer. I braid it into a long braid, pinch the ends and then coil it into a circle, tucking the ends underneath. I dot the top with fresh pomegranate seeds and brush with egg before baking. Then I drizzle it with honey once it’s out and slightly cooled, and add a sprinkling of flaky sea salt.
Shana Tovah! (Happy New Year!)