Sakura Challah

there is a subtle swirl of pink in each slice, a different pattern or curve in each slice

 I offered two kinds of Challah during the week at the Bread Shop.
Plain
and Cherry Blossoms Challah.


In Japanese, the word for Cherry Blossoms is "Sakura"

It is written like this (two ways to write it):

桜 　    This is the Chinese character, or  "kanji"  which you read as `Sakura`         


   さくら    this says  sa-ku-ra in the phonetic "hiragana" Japanese alphabet, you can see it written like this in the sign below for `Sakura Series` supplies to use in this season.

Sakura supplies have just started being sold in the food shops, so I was able to find  Cherry Blossom Flakes, Sakura Paste, and even Cherry Blossom flowers to use on the Challah!  Seeing them in the shop is like a pre-seasonal sign of spring and the excitement for the Cherry Blossoms!!

The dough even has a spring-y quality when you sprinkle in and fold in the Sakura flakes.
In Japan at this time of year we can find many sweets and foods that come out for spring in a cherry blossoms variation, so the Cherry Blossoms Challah , even though it is something new, almost seems like a natural!  I was happy to be able to introduce it at the bread shop.

We gave out sample tastes.  A customer who tried a taste of the  Cherry Blossoms Challah commented and said he could taste the cherry blossoms!

note on making a Cherry Blossoms Challah: a related post on this blog about how to make a Cherry Blossoms Challah HERE:  Recipe for a Cherry Blossoms Challah

Blessings and appreciation,

Love, Shayndel

Recipe for A Cherry Blossoms Challah

Shout joyfully to ADONAI, all the earth!
Serve ADONAI with gladness.
Come before His presence 
with joyful singing.

---Psalm 100:1~2

To commemorate seeing the very first Cherry Blossoms of the year this week (see post below!)  I wanted to to make a Cherry Blossoms Challah.

To make a Cherry Blossoms Challah you will need:

Cherry Blossom Flakes
Cherry Blossom Flowers

 1.

Start with your favorite challah recipe.
Or try a new one.
I tried a new one,  THIS recipe for the basic Challah.

2.
 
Follow the recipe for the first steps ---
 yeast, water, eggs, oil, honey or sugar, and salt.
Mix in the flour.

Scatter the Cherry Blossom Flakes into the dough.

Enjoy as the pink swirls into the mix!

Then comes the first wonderous thing!
As I mixed them in, the dough itself did not turn pink.  The cherry blossom flakes dissolved into the dough,  without changing the color.

It reminded me that the cherry blossoms themselves are so delicate and ephemeral!

3.

Continue to make dough, knead, and let it rise as the recipe instructs.
Choose how you will braid your Challah.
I made a special three braid over a five braid  for the special occasion of this Shabbat  in the week of seeing the first Cherry Blossoms of the year !

You can see the way to braid HERE.

Brush on your egg wash,
scatter more Cherry Blossom Flakes over the top.
Place the Cherry Blossom Flowers to make it beautiful and festive.

 Bake!

 4.

Place the Challah on your Shabbat table.
Cover with a Challah cloth.

Light the candles, say the blessings for Shabbat* with your family,
and make the blessing over the bread.
Taste the challah, enjoy a second wonderous thing!
It tastes like cherry blossoms!!

5.
Enjoy the taste of spring, of God`s provision!  Shabbat Shalom!!

enjoy a second wonderous thing! It tastes like cherry blossoms!!

*Shabbat note!  On Blessing the Children.
On Shabbat one of the customary blessings is to bless the children.
As a child I did not grow up celebrating Shabbat, so I am glad to be able to do this with my daughter as it is a very special and precious time.  We just started observing Shabbat last year, and she is already a teenager, so its never too late to start!
Actually, we all are God`s children, even as adults, so if you did not do these blessings when you were a child, then I pray these blessings for you now!!   
Shabbat Shalom!

These are the blessings for children:

For boys:

May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.

For girls: 

May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.

For Both:*(from the Aaronic Blessing, Numbers 6:24~26)
The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.  The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

For the Hebrew and a fuller description of the Blessing for Children, there are many links.  Here is one where you can find them:  Blessings for Children

 

Shabbat Shalom! and Happy Girl`s day this week in Japan

 

#simchachallah