101 Uses for Stale Challah

Greetings, humans, and belated Happy New Year!

Forgive my lack of timeliness - it must be the excitement about my birthday TOMORROW!  Yes, read it and weep - tomorrow I turn three, which Mommy says means my terrible two's are behind me.  Little does she know.

I heard a delicious rumor that Daddy plans on making me a steak tomorrow - oh, the very thought of it gets me drooling.  I suspect there will be a fair amount of singing, hugging, humping and petting - I can't wait.  Midnight can't come soon enough for this girl.

But in the meantime, I thought I'd catch you up on my Rosh Hashanah activities, which included challahs and a lovely tarte tatin (see photos below).  The challahs were beautiful, one was a three-braid and one was a five-braid with sesame seeds, and the tarte was perfectly caramelized thanks to a tip from my Aunt Lynne in Park City.  Thank you, Aunt Lynne!  But I have to confess I was really excited about the stale challah, which Daddy turned into french toast (see photo below) and Mommy used for Chocolate Pear Bread Pudding (no photo - didn't have time before Mommy snarfed it!).  I'm really loving this stale bread business  :-)

I have a Ricotta Almond Bread with Lemon Zest in the oven as I type and a very busy weekend coming up - Tomato Thyme Steccas for Andrew, four breads for my new friend Melanie's shower, and a Thanksgiving Stuffing Bread for Aunt Irene's dear friend Bob to use for break fast.  Yum.  Break fast - what does that make you think of?  Breakfast! 

I've got to dash - very busy in the kitchen but sending everyone wishes for a healthy and very happy New Year... and happy birthday to me!
love and licks,
Bellalicious