Recipe - Grandma Idas Challah

6 cup FLOUR (approx)
1 pack YEAST, DRY
1 EGG; WELLBEATEN
One half cup OIL
One half cup SUGAR
1 teaspoon SALT; HEAPING
1 1/3 cup WATER; LUKEWARM
RAISINS, OPTIONAL

Mix dry ingredients (yeast, flour, sugar, and salt) in large bowl,
using 4 cups of the flour. Make a well in the center. Into the well, put
the eggs, oil, and water. Stir to dampen flour. Add enough flour so that
dough becomes smooth and cleans sides of bowl if you are using a dough
hook.
Else knead on floured board. Place dough in oiled and let rise until
double in bulk. Divide dough in half and each half into 3 or 4 pieces. For
each loaf, roll out the pieces into ropes and braid from the middle
to the ends. Place loaves on a greased cookie sheet or in greased loaf
pans. Brush the top of each loaf with egg glaze if desired. Allow to rise
again until double. Bake 30 45 min @ 350. ~ FOR BUNS: USE 2/3+ CUPS SUGAR
AND 2 EGGS. ~ ** TO DECREASE RISING TIME: ** PLACE DOUGH IN BOWL DO NOT
GREASE! ** PLACE 1 CUP OF WATER IN CORNER OF MICROWAVE OVEN. ** COVER DOUGH
LOOSELY WITH SARAN OR DAMP LINTFREE TOWEL. ** NUKE FOR 3 MINUTES @ 20%
POWER. (MAX OF 112 DEGREES!!!) ** LET REST FOR 3 MINUTES. ** NUKE FOR
ANOTHER 3 MINUTES @ 20% POWER. ** LET REST FOR 6 MINUTES. ** AFTER PUNCHING
DOWN AND BRAIDING, CAN LET RISE NORMALLY IN PANS OR
REPEAT NUKING PROCESS IF USING MICROWAVE SAFE PANS. ~ TO MAKE ROUND
LOAVES:
PAT DOUGH INTO A 9 X 13 RECTANGLE.
PAT RAISINS INTO THE DOUGH, THEN ROLL UP TIGHT FROM THE LONG SIDE TO 32".
MAKE A PINWHEEL OF IT, TUCKING THE OUTSIDE END UNDER THE LAST TURN.

From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini