Growing up in University City, Mandy Silverman, 44, never could have envisioned a career creating unique and sometimes odd challah and babka recipes on Instagram. Granted, Instagram wasn’t even a thing and becoming a baker was not on her radar either.
“I wanted to be a teacher, just like my mom,” said Silverman, who attended Epstein Hebrew Academy and graduated from Block Yeshiva High School in 1996.
Her mother, Jackie Oppenheimer was a teacher at Epstein for more than 30 years and the inspiration that led Silverman to a life of baking Jewish bread.
The ‘honey oozing challah’
It was mid-September 2012, just before Rosh Hashana. Silverman, a married, stay-at-home mother of two children, ages 7 and 4, was busy at their home in Sharon, Mass., just outside of Boston, when her mother called about a “honey oozing challah.”
“She had gone to a friend’s house for Shabbat lunch. The woman served a challah and when my mom cut into it, a layer of honey oozed out,” remembered Silverman. “My mom was so impressed that she asked her friend how she made it because usually honey would simply be absorbed into the dough, but the friend refused to tell her how she did it.”
And even though she had never even made a regular challah before, in her entire life, Silverman made a life-changing decision.
“I told her I would help her figure out how to do it,” said Silverman. “I told her, I would crack the mystery.”
Silverman immersed herself into the world of challah and stuffed breads. Conducting thorough research she experimented in her kitchen, navigating through a process of trial and error, eventually mastering the challah-making process, although her honey challah remained a complete bust.
“I never failed so much and I don’t like to fail. I could not understand why I could not figure this out,” said Silverman. “I was so frustrated that I decided to put the honey challah on hold and looked at other things that might work in a challah, like salami, cookie dough, or pulled brisket.”
Her pivot to other ingredients not traditionally stuffed inside a challah worked. She began making challahs with chocolate, pesto, potatoes, peanut butter, garlic and even Buffalo chicken. She would make them for friend’s birthdays and special events and the response was always positive.
Within a year of her mother’s call about the “honey oozing challah” Silverman officially launched “Mandylicious” in October of 2013.
490 + recipes and counting
Now, a decade later, Silverman is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Mandylicious. From her kosher kitchen, she sells a variety of locally made challahs using kosher and dairy-free ingredients. On a global scale, she conducts classes, shares recipes and tips, and provides support to individuals interested in creating their own challah.
Over time, she has developed nearly 500 recipes for challah and babka, simultaneously instructing her 40,000+ Instagram followers on preserving the Jewish tradition of challah baking.
“It was Instagram, I think that made it more inspirational,” said Silverman. “I found a community of people, from all over the world, messaging me questions about challah, and I could help them. And that is just so special.”
And her growing audience is not just Jewish.
“I get messages from people who are all religions and are curious about challah. Some even say, ‘I’m not Jewish, is it OK if I make a challah’ and I say yes, make it how you want. They end up pulling from their own cultures, and their own experiences to create something wonderful.”
The return of the ‘honey oozing challah’
But what about that elusive honey oozing challah? With Mandylicious launched and thriving, a year passed before someone asked Silverman about her motivation for starting the enterprise. This reminded her that she had not yet mastered that recipe.
“After two or three more attempts I finally found success,” said Silverman. “Now, even though my mother could make her own ‘honey oozing challah’ anytime she wants, she much prefers the cookie dough.”
Coming home
Silverman, whose family are longtime members of Young Israel of St. Louis, is coming home for a special, one-night, public event at the synagogue. “A Babkalicious Evening” is planned for Jan. 20, and will feature Silverman demonstrating how to shape a babka tree centerpiece just in time for Tu B’Shvat, which begins the evening of Jan. 24.
What: A Babkalicious Evening
When: Jan. 20. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Demo begins at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Young Israel of St. Louis, 8101 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130
More Info: Tickets cost $36.00. Online RSVP is required by Jan. 10., or by emailing: [email protected]
