Frum It Up

Some months ago, I discovered a YouTube channel called Frum it Up. It's quickly become a favourite part of my week to tune into the live premier of her weekly videos. It’s a channel of an amazing woman who shares recipes and tips, and tricks to make your life easier. She does so with a soothing voice that makes even the hardest of tasks seem achievable. One of those things is baking challah.

I have long wanted to make challah but was deeply intimidated.

Between having not made bread in years and feeling like I would never be able to braid it properly, I had already given up before I had started.

It was too hard.

There was no way.

I was forever going to be reliant on friends and bakeries for challah.

But then Sara’s soothing voice talked me through making the dough, and it didn’t seem that hard.

I could do that.

Probably.

Then I watched a video on how to do different types of braiding.

And the more basic ones all seemed doable.

The more I watched her weekly videos, the more I felt empowered to bake my own challah.

But I was still intimidated, so I kept putting it off.

I told myself I would make it after watching a few more videos.

Then it was when I was visiting my family and had people that could try it and give me feedback.

Then I was too busy with the holiday season.

Then I was having dental surgery.

Then there weren’t any more excuses.

So deep breath.

Leap.

My first three attempts did not go to plan.

I misread the recipe and put in too much salt, which killed the yeast.

Then I tried it with the wrong flour.

Then a different but still wrong flour.

Finally, I got it.

The rise wasn’t perfect, and The braid was a little tight, but it was delicious.

Inspired, I made another loaf and some babka.

The power I felt from unlocking this skill might be disproportionate to the small task that it is. I could have gone my entire life just buying bread. I didn’t need to make my own. But this is something I had been secretly wanting to do for years. This was something that had brought me joy, and I wanted more of it in my life. It was also something that my fear had kept me from. I have overcome that fear. I have triumphed.

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