Italian Cheese Bread Ring

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 4 1/2-5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 4 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese (1 cup)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried italian seasoning, of choice
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, softened

Recipe

• 1 in a large bowl combine 2 1/2 cups of flour, sugar, salt and yeast, stir until blended.
• 2 in a small pan heat milk, water and butter until very warm, about 120°f.
• 3 add warm liquid and eggs to flour mixture.
• 4 stir until moistened and beat on medium speed for 3 minutes.
• 5 by hand stir in remaining flour (2 to 2 3/4 cups) to form a stiff batter.
• 6 generously grease a 12 cup bunt pan (or 10 inch tube pan) and sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds.
• 7 in a bowl combine all filling ingredients and mix well.
• 8 spoon half the batter evenly into greased pan, spoon filling mixture evenly over batter staying 1/2 inch away from sides of pan.
• 9 spoon remaining batter evenly into pan over filling.
• 10 cover loosely with plastic wrap and set in warm place to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• 11 do not punch or stir down dough.
• 12 remove plastic and bake in a 350°f oven for 30 or 40 minutes until golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
• 13 remove from pan to cool on a wire rack.
• 14 prep time does not include rising time.