Cheddar and Sesame Challah Pull Apart Bread

Makes one bread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
• 3 1/2 to 4 cups bread flour
• 3 tablespoons melted butter for drizzling
• 1/4 cup untoasted sesame seeds

Instructions:

In a mixer bowl, whisk the water and yeast together. Then briskly stir in a cup of the flour, then the sugar, salt butter, and most of the flour to make a soft dough. Fold in the cheeses. Knead, dusting in more flour as required, to make a soft, bouncy dough, 8-10 minutes. Spray with non-stick cooking spray and lightly cover with a plastic sheet. Let rise 45-60 minutes. At the end of rising, gently deflate dough. Cut into 4-6 random slabs. Place in a greased 12 by 5 inch loaf pan or a 10 inch spring-form pan. Cover and let rise 30-40 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Drizzle on melted butter then sprinkle on sesame seeds. Bake until golden brown (30-35 minutes). Let rest in pan before removing to a rack.

Comments:

Buttery, cheesy, crusty. This bread is cut into rough slabs before rising. Once itrises, it merges into a unique loaf. Perfect with a mid winter Caesar Salad lunch or an omelet supper. This bread is bigger than the sum of its parts.