Today is the day to observe the special Jewish tradition of baking key-shaped challahs the first Shabbos after Passover. Last shabbos was technically after Passover, but we were observing back to back holiday with shabbos, so no baking was allowed. I am now running to get ready for shabbos, so here is a photo to inspire you to make your own key shaped challahs this week! These are half whole wheat, so they maintain their shape quite a bit better than white challahs. You can read more about this tradition and see examples of my key shaped challahs (both before and after baking) from previous years here and here and here.
Note: This photo was taken before baking, and admittedly they don't look quite as nice after the dough rises, but if you use 100% whole wheat dough, as opposed to my 50% whole wheat, certainly the dough will rise less and the end results will be more beautiful. The pieces of aluminum foil were placed in the holes in the hopes of maintaining the holes, but it didn't really work, as the foil wasn't heavy enough and just rose with the dough. I was thinking that for really professional results one could make a key shaped form from heavy aluminum.....maybe I'll give that a try next year!
