Crescia - Italian Cheese Bread

Makes 2 loaves

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups of all-purpose unbleached flour

3 cups of grated cheese total 

1 cup each of grated Asiago, Pecorino (Romano), and Parmesan  (lightly packed)

1 teaspoon of salt

1 tablespoon of sugar

2 tablespoons of fresh ground pepper

4 ½ tsp of yeast (use Fleischmann’s Bread Machine yeast)

3/8 cup unsalted butter - melted

3 large eggs, beaten

½ cup warm milk

1 tbs olive oil 

Method:

Mix the flour, salt, pepper, and dry yeast and cheeses together.  Set aside in a large bowl.

Mix the melted butter, beaten eggs, warm milk together. 

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon till combined.

Knead for 10 minutes.

Cut in half and shape into 2 logs.  Place into the 8x4 baking pans and let rise 45 minutes. 

Bake at 425 for 10 minutes.   Reduce temperature to 350F and continue baking till brown – about 20-25 minutes.  If it is getting too brown on top, loosely cover with tin foil.   Remove and let cool.

Serve for breakfast, or with red wine. Butter optional.