Comments on: Yid.Dish: Apple Cider Challah

By: Naf

Naf — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:22:11 +0000

Rachel,
In Michael Pollan’s “The Botany of Desire” there is an entire section devoted to the apple that has (if I recall correctly) plenty of great information about cider and Johnny Appleseed!

By: Rachel Kahn-Troster

Rachel Kahn-Troster — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:41:17 +0000

So, oddly enough, most American apple cider is non-alcoholic, so much so that as alcoholic cider has become more popular here in recent years, it is referred to as “hard” cider. I believe the switch has something to do with Prohibition, as American cider during colonial times was alcoholic. It is a little unclear what the difference is here between unfiltered apple juice and apple cider.

For those interested in American folklore, I have heard that the reason Johnny Appleseed planted all those trees across the country was so that people could have cider…but right now I can’t seem to find a source.

By: shev

shev — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:26:29 +0000

Okay, British question here: what is apple cider? Where I come from, it’s fizzy alcoholic apple juice – which might make an EXCELLENT challah! What are you using?

By: Moe

Moe — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:30:09 +0000

Oh this sounds wonderful. I’ve never made challah myself, actually. I think this recipe has inspired me to make my first attempt.

Thank you for sharing!

By: Leah Koenig

Leah Koenig — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:46:51 +0000

Thanks everyone for these insightful comments. I hadn’t thought about the fact that using juice instead of water might render this challah cake – even though it looks nothing like cake and everything like challah. Good to know…I’ll definitely check in with my parent-in-laws to be before making it for them on Rosh Hashanah

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:38:13 +0000

YUM!

By: Larry Lennhoff

Larry Lennhoff — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:17:18 +0000

You should definitely consult a rabbi since there are contradictory rulings. According to Chabad.org if the primary liquid ingredient isn't water, technically the result is not bread, but cake. However, The Vaad of Queens makes it clear that in their eyes if it looks and tastes like bread it is bread, regardless of the liquid used. For a really detailed look check out the section "The Fallacy of Mezonos bread" in The Laws of Brachos by Rav Benjamin Forst.

By: Eric Schulmiller

Eric Schulmiller — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:05:52 +0000

This sounds amazing, Leah. I'll have to try it while I still have some summer free time left. As for your "Sesame Street moment", were you thinking of these guys? I have to pull Gen-X rank and give mad reading props to the soft-shoe silhouette gang at the Electric Company. Long live Morgan Freeman (aka Easy Reader)!

By: Avi

Avi — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:24:14 +0000

Debby nailed the major concern, is your apple cider challah halakhically bread? It’s kosher either way, but the fruit juice could make it cake and switch the blessing to mezonot. On the one hand that means you can’t use it for motzi on Shabbat(or any other time), but on the other hand it means you can eat it without having to ritually wash your hands.

You should probably check with a Rabbi you trust before serving it as challah at a meal.

But of course, to quote Alton Brown, either way, “it’s still good eats.”

By: Allison Lattman

Allison Lattman — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:12:03 +0000

That sounds awesome! Several years ago, I actually created a challah recipe with orange juice and had the same thought–Who would think of making it without? I’m gonna have to try apple cider next time. I see a new HHD tradition a-rising:)