Parmesan Pepper Bread
Submitted by Mrs Cindy on June 30, 2005 at 6:51 pm

DESCRIPTION
Parmesan Pepper Bread

SUMMARY
Yield 0 File under Yeast Bread/Rolls (not sourdough)

INSTRUCTIONS
1 cup Plus 2 Tbs water
1 Tbs Olive oil
3 1/4 cups Bread flour
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese -- grated
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese -- diced into 1/2" cubes
1 Tbs Sugar
1 tsp Salt (Kosher if you have it)
3/4 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 tsp Instant yeast

This is a bread machine bread, so place all ingredients (except the diced Parmesan)in your machines fully assembled pan and in the order specified by your machines manufacturer. Select the dough cycle and press start. After the first 10 minutes of kneading check the dough, it should form a smooth round ball that when touched with your finger is tacky. However, when you pull your finger away no dough should stick to it. If the dough is too dry add 1 Tbs of water at a time until the dough is the proper consistency. If the dough is too wet add 1 Tbs of flour at a time until the dough is the proper consistency. It is normal for all recipes to need some sort of an adjustment.

At the beep, about 5 minutes before the kneading is finished, add the diced Parmesan. It will look like the cheese is not getting mixed in, don't worry about it.

When the dough cycle is finished and it has had it's first rise, dump the dough out on a lightly Pammed countertop. Try not to de-gas it completely. Form it into a nice round ball, poking the little cubes of cheese in as best you can. At this point you can put it on your peel to bake on a stone, or put it on a floured or cornmealed baking sheet to rise. Let rise to double. Brush the entire loaf with egg wash (one egg and 1 Tbp water) and sprinkle some more grated Parmesan and a few twists of pepper on the top and slash it if you wish.

Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reads 205 degrees (be careful when you poke the thermometer in that you don't hit a cheese pocket. The melted cheese will give you a false reading).

This is such a delightful bread. The little pockets of melted cheese and the little bite of the pepper goes so nicely with almost any meal.