Scrumptious Italian Herb and Cheese Ring

Yesterday I made some of the most delicious bread!  It is is very easy and have had a request to share the recipe.  Sadly my photo was deleted. :(  If K. or J. has it, please send a copy back to me.  :)

I will list the ingredients here in bold (pardon the decimals...the superscript doesn't apply to blogging - or I'm just ignorant of how to do it online):

BREAD
4.5 - 5.25 cups of all purpose flour
.25 cup sugar
2pkg. yeast (4.5 teaspoons)
1 cup milk
1 cup water
.5 cup butter (1 stick if you are using sticks)
2 eggs
2 tablespoons sesame seed (optional)


FILLING:
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded mozzerella cheese
.5 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (I pumped mine up to a full teaspoon)
.25 teaspoon garlic powder
.25 cup butter softended (that's .5 of a stick)




In a large bowl combine 2.5 cups of flour, sugar, salt, and yeast; blend well.  In a small sauce pan, heat milk, water, and .5 cup butter until warm (120-130 degrees).  Add warm liquid and eggs to flour mixture.  Blend on low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes and medium speed.  By hand, stir in the remaining 2 - 2.75 cups of flour to form a stiff batter.  (it only took me 2 cups - but that's here in Missouri)


Generously grease a 12-cup bundt pan or 10 -in tube pan; sprinkle with sesame seeds (again this is optional).  In a small bowl, combine all  filling ingredients; mix well.  Spoon half of batter into greased pan; spoon filling mixture evenly over batter to within .5 inches of the sides of pan.  Spoon remaining batter over filling.  Cover loosely wiht plastic wrap and cloth towel.  Let rise in a warm place (80-85 degrees) until light and doubled in size, about 30 minutes.  (Don't know where to let your bread rise??  Find a chair and place your covered dough on top of a heating pad set on medium or high...helps create that warm environment and knocks a few minutes off the rise time. )

Heat oven to 350. Uncover dough.  Back 30 - 40 minutes or until golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when lightly tapped.  Immediately remove from pan; cool on wire rack.  Serve warm or cool.


Yields: 24 slices.
190 calories per slice... definitely a salad worthy side. 


Modified from the Pilsbury - Complete Book of Baking (1993)




Happy Baking!
-B.