Since my store had sweet potatoes on sale for .25 cents a pound (a sign next to the sweet potatoes said “.25 cents a pound up to 30 pounds.”  I can’t imagine buying 30 pounds of sweet potatoes!

I went on Tastespotting and saw a recipe for sweet potato challah.  I am trying to think, but I don’t think I’ve ever made challah from scratch before.  It’s super easy, although my braiding skillz need some serious work.  I watched a youtube video a dozen times, but still didn’t get it exactly right, but it still looks pretty!

Honey sweetens the bread:

Sweet Potato Challah

  • 1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 whole egg plus 2 yolks
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 6 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
    egg wash, (1 beaten egg plus 1 tablespoon water)

In my stand mixer I added the water and yeast and let it sit for 5 minutes.  Then I added the honey, butter, egg, yolks, salt and mashed sweet potato and mixed it until just combined.

Then I added the six cups of flour, one cup at a time, scraping down the sides as you go.  Once the dough starts to separate from the side of the mixing bowl, you know you are done.   I just wonder if I could have more shit on my counter.  Yep, its already snowman mug time! 😀

Put it in an oiled bowl and let it rise for 90 minutes.

Then I divided the dough into two.  And then each ball into 6 small balls.  This is how the braiding starts:

Try as I might, I could not get the braid right – but they still look okay!

They rose on a sheet for another hour, then right before going into a 350 degree oven, I brushed them with the egg wash and baked them for 25 minutes.

Tony said they looked great, until he realized there was sweet potato in it.  The bottom is slightly crunchy, but the top and inside is soft and tender.  Delicious!

I love the color of this bread too – would make a great addition to your Thanksgiving table!

So today is my 2nd weigh in with the Zero Scale – the verdict?

Sorry this picture is so bad – I had my camera on the wrong setting – but it says Loss 1.2.  After the stressful week I had last week, I’ll take it!  And the 15 number is from the first time I stepped on the scale – afterwords it said 7 days at -1.2, but I missed that shot.  If I were to step on the scale again it would just say 0 pounds lost since last weigh in.

My hope this week is to maintain – its going to be insanely busy, but at least the work days will go by fast!

Make it a great day!