Bread Question

[donutsweeper]

I'm not sure anyone here will really know the answer, but maybe someone'll know where I can ask.  I spent all damn day making challah, followed the recipe exactly, but every time I make it the lovely braid effect gets ruined because of how it rises and bakes.  So it comes out like this:


with the lines of where the braids were, instead of looking all nice and pretty like this one from online:


anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Comments

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

If it looks like it should before it goes in I'm with Smithy - your oven isn't hot enough to kill the yeast in the first place. Though, like with everyone else, it's been a while since I made bread.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

hmmm, thanks. I'm not sure how to fix that without burning the bread though

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Do you know if your oven is actually getting as hot as it should be for that setting?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

actually not really, I've bought those thermometers to test oven temp and they seem to say the temp is close if not right, but they don't seem all that accurate either.

Maybe this weekend when I have time i'll google about and see if I can find any other recipes to try or see if there are any hint sites out there about bread

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

You know I'm going to ask what might be a stupid question.

You are putting it in a tin and not just on a baking tray aren't you?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

no- they just sit on a baking sheet. I've tried putting them in an actual loaf pan in the past and it doesn't matter- they still swoosh out and loose the braid, they just keep the loaf pan shape and rise upwards instead of all over

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

hmmm is your recipe an online one? OR a family one?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

it's from a friend. I could write it up for you when I get home from work though.

I do wonder if you all are right about the temp. I might try it again and have it cook at 375 for 10 min or something to shock and kill the yeast and then lower it to the proper temp.

My daughter says the challah's taste good and that's what's important and she thinks we should freeze them and use them for the bat mitzvah as planned, so I suppose it doesn't matter in the end... but being the MOM I am I want it to look nice to

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

You could ask your friend if she knows?

Your daughter sounds very sensible but I know what you mean - it's a big day and you want it to be perfect :D


ETA
Asked my cooking genius of a sister and she said it sounds like it might simply be that the mix is too wet...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

cooking friend and I have lost touch :( but I do know someone else that makes challah occasionally and I'll ask her.

hmmm, maybe I should try a different recipe then. I just want it to look good!