Our Round Challah Was a Success!

In Colorado Springs, getting challah in time for Shabbat is difficult. Every time I call Panera Bread to reserve one, I'm told they are already sold out. Albertsons has one or two loaves out once in awhile, so sometimes we buy our challah there.

Around Rosh Hashanah, I want a round challah. When I ask those stores if they make such a thing, the answer is always "No."

This year, the kids and I decided to make our own round challah in time for Rosh Hashanah. I've decided to share our recipe since it is so easy and fun to make!

This recipe comes from my study partner from Partners in Torah, Dena Leff. I began studying with Partners in Torah in 2003 since I wanted to teach my kids to read Hebrew. I did learn to read Hebrew. Dena and I kept studying. Dena gave me this recipe 4 years ago shortly after we spent some time discussing Shabbos.

Dena's Challah

Put the following ingredients in your bread maker:

1 cup water - fairly warm
2 egg whiltes (set yolks aside)
1/4 cup oil
4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Press start (set breadmaker on dough, mixing, or pasta setting).

After that mixing cycles finishes, remove the dough from the breadmaker and shape the dough into a braid. (Dena suggested looking in the Chabad Cookbook for braiding tips.)

Cover with dishtowel.

Turn on the oven for 10 seconds at 500 degrees to warm the oven up. Then quickly turn the oven off.

Put the braided dough in the oven and allow the dough to rise for about 2 hours until double in size.

Then add a bit of water to the egg yolks that were set aside and mix.

Paint the challah gently with the egg yolk (use a pastry brush).

Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour.

Yum!

Tip from Annabelle: Add some yellow food coloring !

Rosh Hashanah 2009

Sometimes I wonder why the traditional calendar doesn't start in September, since new things begin in the fall. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, usually comes in September or early October. The holiday is a celebration of life and new beginnings.



Our family's tradition is to celebrate the holiday in the mountains with what used to be Rocky Mountain Havurah's Mountain Minyan. This year, we took that trip again to the mountains and had a wonderful time of celebration.


For our family, this particular new year brings a new adventure into our lives since the children have begun a once a week homeschool academy supplement program. We also look back on the past year and wonder what lies ahead.



We are also very grateful each September since we remember that Dan miraculously recovered from a horrible accident that occurred on September 16, 2005. Just before Rosh Hashanah 2005, he woke up after being in a coma for two weeks. That year, I remember going to the mountains and realizing that a new beginning was in store for my family.

Things with figure skating have taken up much of our time and as the new year begins, things are a bit different this year since Rebekah broke her foot in the summer. That has meant that although Rebekah and Joel could not train, our family was given more time together to enjoy one another and do some things that we might have not been able to do if the kids had been in a full training schedule. Rebekah is better now, so full training will begin soon. I look at the time off as a time of renewal. We will enter the next few busy months with increased energy.

L'shanah tovah!

My Three Unschooled/Homeschooled Kids Went to One Day of School

Joel did attend public school in Kindergarten and for just a few months in first grade, but in late 2000, for various reasons, I decided that I would leave the world of school behind us, and Unschool my three children.

It's been an adventure and a way of life. It's hard to explain exactly what we do to those who "do school," and after almost ten years of the unschooling/homeschool life, my children have been curious about what goes on behind school doors.



This week, we took a plunge, you could say. I've enrolled all three kids in a one day a week homeschool supplement-enrichment program called Mountain Vista Homeschool Academy. Annabelle and Rebekah love it so far; Joel is going to try it for another week or two and decide if it is for him or not.

Annabelle goes all day (8:30 AM to 3:50 PM) Wednesday and Rebekah and Joel attend all day (8:30 Am to 3:50 PM) Friday. They have to wear school uniforms and follow rules like waiting to go to the bathroom only between classes. They are grouped in small groups by age and grade. Subjects include art, history, science, language arts, music, drama, poetry, technology, physical education, library, and Spanish. I had to buy each child a bunch of school supplies and they put their supplies inside of backpacks. That may be a usual thing for most kids, but for my three kids, this is all so new and is almost like a field trip adventure!




Since this is a one day a week program, there were not too many hassles involved in enrolling the kids in this homeschooling supplement. I just had to fill out a form. I was not asked for birth certificates, immunization records, transcripts, or proof of residence. I asked if there would be any hassle if we leave early or have to miss a day or two due to figure skating, and the answer was "No problem, just let us know in advance."

The kids got a kick out of the hot lunch that only costs $1.15 for Annabelle and $1.45 for Joel or Rebekah. I paid for one meal for the entire year for Joel so far since he doesn't like very many foods. Both Annabelle and Rebekah said the food was great.

We'll see how this new addition to our very busy life of figure skating/learning/reading/exploring/american school of correspondence/teach your child to read and do math well/music/piano/guitar/violin/hiking/tennis/bike riding/roller skating/photography/computer/swimming/skiing/family field trips/and scouting goes!

Together Again ON the Ice! 9-3-09 - Rebekah's Broken Foot Is Not "As Broken"

Today, 9-3-09 Rebekah took to the ice again! She broke her foot on 8-1-09, so it has been over a month since she could walk or skate. She is taking things slowly.

All she can do so far is stroke around the rink, but she's ON the ice! It was good to be together again on the ice! We've missed being able to skate together.

Rebekah Can Walk Without Crutches!

We saw an orthopedic specialist today, and Rebekah's foot is okay. He told us she could walk without the crutches. Hopefully, she'll be able to skate soon.

Here are the x-rays that were taken today.