Challah - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 c. warm water
2 pkg. active dry yeast
2 tsp. honey
3 eggs
1 egg white (reserve yolk for crust)
5 Tbsp. oil
1 1/2 Tbsp. salt
1 tsp. honey
4 c. unbleached flour
sesame seed or poppy seed

Preparation

Combine warm water, dry yeast and 2 teaspoons honey.
Let sit 5 to 10 minutes, then add 3 eggs and 1 egg white (reserve yolk for crust).
Add oil, salt, 1 teaspoon honey and flour.
Beat well as you add flour until stiff, then knead and let rise in oiled, covered bowl until double.
Punch down.
Separate and roll into 3 coils.
Start off by pinching the ends together and braid as you would hair.
Place on greased cookie sheet and cover with a towel. Let rise until double in size.
Brush with egg yolk and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seed.
Bake in preheated oven at 425\u00b0 for 15 minutes.
Reduce to 350\u00b0 and bake for 30 minutes.