Royally Annoying Review on Royal Challah Silicone Mold
Posted on 17th of November, 2011 by Lévana
This challah silicone mold, which was created to obediently take on a beautiful braid’s shape for dutiful but less-than-dexterous bakers, elicited many comments, a few of them of a gastronomic nature, most of them of a reconstructive-surgery nature (vaguely reminding one as it does of some enhancement plan…), and just one of them of a spiritual nature, like the one below, found on Amazon: Here comes: No name, but I’ll give you a hint: It’s a man!
This product is a bad idea. The braids and braiding of challah contribute important symbolic meaning that help a Jewish woman imbue the Shabbat table with additional holiness. If one adopts the opinion that such symbols are negligible, one misses the point. Too many people view observance, and life for that matter, as series of defenses against demerit. To the contrary, observance, and life, are series of opportunities to improve, to build a nearness to our Creator. For a quick summary of some of the symbolism, the following link is useful. (…) If you are Jewish, do not buy this product. IF you do, you are denying yourself some opportunities to augment your appreciation of life’s meaning through participation and involvement in the mental exercise of understanding why challot are braided.
My answer to this review is as follows:
Still the question remains: How does the challah come out in this mold, for G-d’s sake? Come on people: Spill the beans! Seriously: I am thinking of buying a couple of them, as I may be a great baker, that’s what I hear, but I am a lousy braider, that’s I don’t hear: thank you dearest students for never saying what I always think: My bread is delicious but pretty homely!
levana,
i love your work, your recipes along with your words continue to nurture me. thank you for publishing and may Hashem bless you with the health and strength to continue your holy work.
love, sharone
Sharone always so nice to hear form you. Might you be coming to NYC anytime soon? You could join us a t a demo: I would love to see you! Hey wait till you see how my latest cookbook is getting redone! Fabulous! Love to all, xoxoxo
Hi Levana. Check out Amazon.com review #2 and #3 for the Silicone Challah Pan.! I’ve had good results with this pan, though I won’t quit my “braid job” Wonderful “training wheels” for those who have never tried making challah before!
Hugs, Helene
Training wheels is the right way to describe way. But really, take a girl like me, who is always reticent to do anything “for looks” when it comes to cooking: I just want to make a great dish, and plop it on a platter and let it speak for itself. I really welcome those training wheels! If I get this gismo, and I like it, I might never go back to my homely braiding! Love to all. PS: Until I announce it more formally, listen up: My book went out to press this week: Can’t tell you how delighted I am! xoxoxo
I grew up on loaf challah, nothing fancy, just plop in a bread pan. And no one suffered, no one “married out,” and we had beautifully sandwiches all week. It’s the taste, and its very existence, that makes challah special, unless you’re entered in a contest!
LOL! There you go! I couldn’t agree more!