Yesterday, I made a pot of chicken and veggie stew and wanted to have some good bread to go along with it so I made this bread.
It went really good with the chicken/vegetable stew. I had wanted Asiago cheese bread but only had cheddar so you can switch out cheeses. Also I kind of patted out my football shaped bread dough a little too thin so leave it bunched up higher for taller sized bread loaf.
Here is the recipe just for you!
3 to 3 3/4 c flour (self- rising) I used.
1 tsp sugar 1 tsp salt 1 pkg yeast
2 TBSP olive oil 1 tsp each of rosemary and thyme to decorate the top of loaf
1 1/4th c 120 degree water
1 c of shredded cheese.
Use a large bowl to add water and 1 1/2 c of flour into. Add the sugar. Mix together for a minute. Cover and let sit 10 minutes until frothy to see that the yeast is still good.
Add in the oil and herbs, salt and rest of flour. Stir and let sit 15 minutes while covered.
Have some extra flour to use on countertop a small hand-full. Empty dough onto floured counter. Knead the dough for 10 minutes while adding in the cheese.
Also have a pan or can of hot water on the oven bottom floor. This makes the bread do better.
Heat the oven on 200 degrees and turn it right off. This will help the dough to rise beautifully. Do for every rising time.
Grease a large clean bowl with 1 TBSP olive oil and put bread dough in it. Roll the dough over to coat it. Cover bowl with foil or clean dishtowel. Add the herbs to top of bread loaf.
Place in warm oven for 1 hour to rise. Grease a cookie sheet or bread pan. Roll the dough around to coat it in oil. Shape dough like a tall football shape! Then cover the dough and have oven pre-heated to 200 degrees and turned right off. Let the dough rise for 1 hour again.
Turn oven on to 450 degrees- cut a slit down the top of bread. Sprinkle on some more cheese and herbs. Whisk up 1 egg white and brush over top of dough for a shiny colored bread. Bake for 10 minutes then lower heat to 400 degrees. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or a little longer until browned slightly. Remove from pan after sitting out for 10 minutes or the cheese will stick to the pan!
Enjoy!!