Now Inducting into the Challah Fame: Carly Menkin

The Challah Fame is a OneTable series that celebrates someone who loves to make challah (or other delicious food!) and does so as a form of self-care, self-expression, as a business, or for any other reason.

Throughout the pandemic, for most of us, lockdown meant more time at home, and in turn (maybe?!) more opportunities to cook. We got the scoop on how OneTable hosts have used this unusual time to level up and try new recipes and traditions at their Shabbat table. Now, we’re sharing their dishes and stories to celebrate the power of Shabbat during  *an unprecedented time* and inducting them into the Challah Fame!

Then, we invite you to make this dish or one of your favorites and tag us @onetableshabbat. 

Carly is the Office Manager/Admin at Brand Now and is based in Queens, NY. 

Earlier in the year, Carly shared with us:

I grew up in South Africa, then moved to Orange County California, and now reside in Queens, New York. For me, Shabbat has always been about finding the balance of being a first-generation American and keeping those traditions of my parents alive. But, what I love about Shabbat is how I’m able to recreate recipes from my family and South African culture and elevate tradition at my table.

During quarantine, I now find myself living with my husband, two-year-old daughter and in-laws. We’re all living and working under the same roof. The moment Shabbat comes, we’re able to take an extra breath and relax. My daughter loves to join Zoom Shabbat with the PJ Library and the local Federation has helped us a lot too. There is candle lighting, and singing, and always good food – sometimes it’s takeout and sometimes it’s homemade.

Carly wanted to share her recipe for Malva Pudding, a South African baked dessert. Note: it has cake and syrup ingredients and instructions!

Ingredients for the cake

  • 1.5 cups cake flour (375ml)
  • 0.5 cup milk (125 ml)
  • 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 tablespoons smooth apricot jam
  • 2 eggs
  • 0.5 cup sugar (125ml)
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • Carly’s secret: add a big sprinkle of cinnamon 🙂

Cake Instructions: Melt butter in milk. add sugar and eggs, then mix in the rest of the ingredients. Bake at 350°F for 30 min.

Ingredients for the syrup

  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla essence
  • 1 cup butter (250 grams)
  • 1 cup cream

Syrup Instructions: Boil all together and pour over the warm pudding (the saucier, the better!)

OneTable empowers people who don’t yet have a consistent Shabbat dinner practice to build one that feels authentic, sustainable, and valuable. The OneTable community is funded to support people (21-39ish), not in undergraduate studies, and without an existing weekly Shabbat practice, looking to find and share this powerful experience.

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