2.14.2013

Artisan Bacon and Cheese Bread


Trolling through Noble Pig the other day (something I do every few weeks or so, playing catch-up), I came upon several recipes I really wanted to try. Cathy is so talented and I love her re-inventions. She discovered this bread recipe in Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois.  After reading how much she loves this book, I put it on my Amazon wish list. Cathy took the original version and added cheese and bacon....and then used bread flour to make it strong enough to hold those extras. It turned out perfectly. Loved it with tomato soup I posted recently!

Easy Artisan Bacon and Cheese Bread
Inspired by Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day, via Cathy at Noble Pig




Ingredients:
10 slices thick cut bacon, diced
8 ounces shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese (shred yourself, not packaged)
2 Tablespoons granulated yeast
3 cups lukewarm water (body temperature is perfect and will not damage yeast)
5-1/2 cups (29.30 ounces) bread flour, more for dusting
1-1/2 Tablespoons kosher salt
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon yellow cornmeal

Method:
Cook bacon over medium heat until brown and crunchy. Drain on paper towels.
Put yeast in a large bowl, pour in warm water and give the yeast a little stir with a wooden spoon. Add flour and salt. Start mixing with a wooden spoon, use your hands as necessary to fully wet the flour and salt. Add the cheese and bacon into the dough until fully combined. Cover dough with a tea towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise for at least 3 hours. After 3 hours place dough in the refrigerator overnight.
When ready to bake, place a metal baking pan (not glass) on the bottom rack of the oven. Fill it with water, which will help steam the bread and makes it crusty.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees (the water will heat up during this time). Meanwhile, butter the bottom of an 11 x 17 baking tray and sprinkle cornmeal over the butter.
Sprinkle the dough with flour and flour your hands as well. Divide the dough into two even loaves, shaping each into a ball. Place on the baking tray, several inches apart. Sprinkle generously with flour. (I halved the recipe but you could make the entire recipe and save the dough in the refrigerator for another day.) Let rest on the baking tray for 30 minutes. Right before placing in the oven, score top of bread with an "x" or other decorative mark, cutting right through the dough.
Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes before slicing. 

32 comments:

  1. barbara! this bread look georgeous! I love it!

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  2. I hope you had a happy Valentine's Day!

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  3. My husband will love this Barbara. It sounds so good and I have got to try it this week. We don't eat much bread in our house because Dale is diabetic, but I think this sounds too good to pass over. And yes, it will be perfect with the tomato soup.
    I hope all is great with you. Things are good here.
    sending hugs...

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  4. It looks marvelous and it must taste amazing!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  5. Good Morning Barbara, This sounds and interesting bread and one I know my husband will love as he adores bacon. I have bookmarked this recipe to try later as you cannot have enough "good" bread recipes.
    Thank you so much.
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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  6. I have this book and enjoy it..What a great idea to add to:)

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  7. That's a coincidence - I've got that book on my wish list too. Your bread looks wonderful. I would love to get in the habit of baking bread more often this year!

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  8. Carbs, cheese and bacon--who could ask for more?

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  9. Oh that sounds fabulous... and I do like the idea of it with that soup too. Maybe next weekend I'll have kitchen time.

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  10. I have a friend who would just love this. He's here this weekend, so I think I'll surprise him!

    xxoo,

    RMW

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  11. Mmmm this bread looks brilliant :D
    It has everything!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  12. Great flavour combo. Would be nice with some jalapenos, too! This is definitely enough for 2 loaves.

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  13. Love Cathy's Blog. Great looking bread Barbara

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  14. Hi Barbara,

    The bread sounds delicious with the bacon and cheese and served with tomato soup, yum!
    Thanks for sharing and wishing you a happy weekend
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  15. I want it! Without the bacon for me though.

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  16. I have this book too, and love it! Cathy's version would be delicious with soup or salad. Looking forward to trying it.

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  17. noble pig. i love that blog name. what a great bread to feature--it'd be terrific all by itself or surrounding some sliced meat or dunked in soup. very nice!

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  18. I have been seeing recipes lately on the blogs about the 5 minute Artisan bread making. After reading through your recipe post, I am thinking I can make this bread. I will be adding the book to my Amazon wish list too.

    Velva

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  19. Love this bread. Always good things coming out of your kitchen.

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  20. I've made these "quick" yeast breads, and they always come out great. And, of course, you can't miss with bacon and cheese. Always a winner!

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  21. How could I miss out this one? Looks perfectly baked and the flavour combo sounds really great.

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  22. A whole breakfast in a loaf... what a splendid idea especially on a freezing cold day like today....

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  23. Dearest Barb! HOW ARE YA? Well, I think that this bread would be the death of me. I can eat bread from sun up to sun down, and this one sounds like it would hit the spot. I am curious about a recipe I found on Pinterest that is left in a pot, put in the oven to rise then baked in the pot. It is hailed as the "easiest and best loaf of bread" you will ever make. It has been literally years since I made my own bread.

    Thank you so much for coming on by for a visit this morning! Language is fascinating to me, translation, learning it, listening to phonetics...the whole gamut of language. But the best part is listening to what the heart has to say.

    LOVE TO YOU! Anita

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  24. Wow, that looks so great!! Can you send me a piece?

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  25. Nothing can beat up the aroma of a bread baking in the oven. This one is a star Barbara!

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  26. Oooh Barbara! What a fabulously looking very appetizing cheese & bacon bread!

    What's NOT to LOVE here? Your bread looks spectacular!!!!!! xxxx

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  27. what a great recipe--very simply laid out, gorgeous results. my baker friend always puts that pan of water into her oven for bread baking; it really must insure a terrific crust.

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  28. Gasp! Heaven in a bread crust! This, I have to try.

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  29. Hello! I recently just started a youtube Korean food channel, EasyKoreanFood, where you can learn how to make fast & easy Korean food! It would mean the world to me if you could check it out because I'm just starting out! Thanks!

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  30. I know a certain male that would love this bread ;) What a great idea!

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