Surprise Bread

Ham and Cheese Loaf

My mother and my brother are just crazy for BreadTalk’s Crouching Tiger Hidden Bacon Bread. I do say, it is yummy! Tender white bread with a swirl of juicy peppery ham in the middle!

I have always wanted to make something similar, but with a twist!

The bread I used for this recipe is the same bread I used for the corned beef roll I made some time ago – the Challah, an egg bread.

After the first rising, I rolled out the whole dough on a lightly oiled table. I spread some tomato pesto on top. I used tomato pesto as it comes in bottles seasoned and ready to eat. At least I would not have to worry about chopping herbs, then drizzling olive oil, had I decided to use the tomato sauce from the pantry. I didn’t want it oozing with tomato inside, so I used just enough to “color” the dough. I left around an inch of margin around so it would seal shut once rolled.

I then laid out some slices of pastrami. I originally intended some ham, but decided I would go for the more peppery meat. You can use whatever sliced meat you like. Then the best part, some grated cheese. I figured that the cheese, as it melts, would “cement” the meat and dough together.

(leave clean margins so that the bread will seal shut when rolled. you don't want all of the filling oozing out into your pan.)

Then I rolled the bread on its long side. Leave some room for expansion – do not roll it too tightly! I then placed it on a greased 5x9 loaf pan and let it rise another 40 minutes (until doubled in volume). I put it on a 375° oven for 40-50 minutes until it was golden.

(i may have rolled this one too loose - the expanded dough did not obliterate all the space.)