CHALLAH BREAD IN BREAD MACHINE (SALLYE)

Steps:

• 1. Cut butter into small pieces, and place in saucepan with milk and sugar. Over medium heat bring to a boil. Remove from heat and set aside to cool to 110º-115º. NOTE: If milk is too hot, it will kill lthe yeast action. If you don't have a thermometer, test the milk on the inside of your wrist. It should be just barely lukearm. Sift flour and set aside.
• 2. Whisk 2 eggs until light and frothy When milk is at proper temperature, add the eggs and salt to the milk and pour into bread machine pan.
• 3. Carefullly pour flour into pan, making sure that all liquid is completely covered by flour. Make small indentation in center of flour and pour yeast there.
• 4. OPTION ONE: Turn bread machine on to Dough cyclo. Machine will ding when dough cycle is complete. Remove dough from bread machine pan and place on floured work surface (waxed paper or cutting board). Cut dough into three equal pieces. Roll three pieces into long snakes about 18" long. Braid the snakes together into a loaf and tuck the ends under. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle with cornmeal. Transfer the braided loaf to the baking sheet. Cover loaf with a clean towel or cheesecloth and let rise until nearly doubled in size (about 1 hour).
• 5. Preheat oven to 350º Whisk the remaining egg and 1 tablespoon cold water together until light and frothy. With basting brush, lightly baste loaf evenly with egg wash. Sprinkle immediately with poppy seeds to taste.
• 6. Cook in middle rack of oven for 50-55 minutes until loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when bottoms are thumped. Cool completely on racks before wrapping. Be sure and sneak a piece with honeyed butter while it's still hot (for quality control purposes of course).
• 7. OPTION TWO: ALTERNATE METHOD FOR BAKING BREAD COMPLETELY IN BREAD MACHINE: If you don't want to braid the dough, use this method. Follow instructions steps 1 and 2 above. Skip instructions steps 3 through 6 above Turn bread machine to basic cycle, crust to medium. When cycle is complete, remove from bread machine and brush the bread with egg wash (1 egg & 1 tablespoon of water whisked briskly). Place in 350º oven for 5 minutes to "seal" the egg wash. Or, you can skip the egg wash and just brush with melted butter (Either way is fine).