Kittencal's Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tablespoons dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup warm water
• 4 cups flour (more as needed)
• 2 large jalapeno peppers, coarsely chopped, and seeds removed (can use more jalapeno if desired)
• 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 egg (room temperature, let egg sit in hot water for about 5-7 minutes to warm)
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)
• 3/4 cup milk, warmed
• 2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (chopped into about 1/2-inch cubes or a little larger if desired)

Recipe

• 1 prepare a heavy-duty stand mixer with a kneader blade.
• 2 proof yeast in water with 1 teaspoon sugar for 8-10 minutes, or until foamy.
• 3 heat milk in the microwave for about 50 seconds on high.
• 4 in the stainless steel bowl, add in 4 cups flour, chopped jalepenos, salt, sugar, egg, hot pepper sauce (if using) and warmed milk.
• 5 after the yeast has proofed, add to the bowl and start kneading, adding in more flour as needed to create a soft smooth semi-sticky dough, keep kneading for about 8-10 minutes.
• 6 towards the end of the kneading add in the cubed cheddar cheese, and mix until combined (the dough can be removed from the bowl and you can add/mix in the cheese by hand if dresired).
• 7 after the kneading, let the dough sit out on a board or counter top to rest, covered with a clean tea towel for 8-10 minutes.
• 8 gather up dough and knead gently for 30 seconds.
• 9 then place the dough in a well greased bowl, and let rise until doubled (about 1-1/2 hours or could take a little longer).
• 10 punch down dough and slice into two even pieces.
• 11 shape into two large balls, and place on a cookie/baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
• 12 cover with a clean tea towel and rise again for another 1 hour or more until doubled.
• 13 brush tops with an egg that has been mixed with 1 teaspoon cold water.
• 14 sprinkle on grated parmesan cheese or sesame seeds.
• 15 bake in a 375 degree oven for about 25-35 minutes or until the crust is a dark golden brown.