Challa Bread Braids

From: My friend, Sarah Valente.

Ingredients:

3.5 cups warm water
4 tsp yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup melted butter
6 eggs
6+ cups flour

How to:  

Combine yeast and warm water. Add the sugar.  It should bubble right away. Add the rest of the ingredients in order, mixing each ingredient in thoroughly as you go. When the dough is formed but not too sticky (add more flour if necessary), allow it to rise for 30 min. Then form into 4 equal parts for the loaves.  Break each 1/4th into 3 equal parts to braid into a loaf.  Then bake for 20-25 minutes at 360°F.

Homemade Bread by Hand

From: My friend, Sarah Valente.

Ingredients:

3.5 cups warm water
4 tsp yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
6 c flour

optional:
cheese
garlic

How to:  

Combine yeast and warm water. Add the rest of the ingredients in order, mixing each ingredient in thoroughly as you go. When the dough is formed but not too sticky, allow it to rise for 30 min. Then form into 4 equal parts for the loaves.  Form into a loaf, place in the baking pan and allow to rise another 20-30 minutes.  Then bake for 20-25 minutes at 360°F.

Beef Brisket or Roast

From: I started with this recipe and tweaked it according to what was in my kitchen.  :)

Ingredients:

4 lbs. beef brisket (NOT corned) (you can also use a beef pot roast)
4 cloves minced garlic, or 1 Tbsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp. ketchup
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 onions, thinly sliced

For gravy: 
2 Tbsp. flour
1/3 cup water

How to:  

Place onions in bottom of slow cooker, then place brisket, fat side up, on top of onions. Sprinkle garlic, salt and pepper on top. Combine ketchup, vinegar, and brown sugar in small bowl and then rub into beef. Add enough water to coat the bottom of the cooker. Cover slower cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

For gravy, remove brisket from the slow cooker place on serving plate, and cover tightly with foil. Turn crockpot temperature to High. Mix flour with 1/3 cup water, add to crockpot, and bring to a boil, stirring frequently with wire whisk. Makes 16 servings.

Serve over rice or make a sandwich on toasted bread, with butter, mustard, mayo, and barbeque sauce.