It was our fifth wedding anniversary on Friday, and though I spent some time cooking a meal for us it was not eaten in the manner intended. My beloved came home from work on Friday evening feeling very icky. Not good when you have spent hours preparing a meal. So he tried to put on brave face and said "if I have a short nap maybe I will feel more like eating". So off he went to bed for a "short nap" That was at 7pm and the meal was ready then so I kept it warm for a while. At midnight after I had partaken of my own weight in chocolate and one or three cosmopolitans, up he gets, and though he couldnt mange the whole meal he was definatley feeling better. I should have taken photos of the chicken rolls stuffed with roasted red peppers and feta cheese, but the only photo I took was of the cheese bread I made.

It is my basic just my usual bread recipe, so here it is, just tarted up with some very tasty cheese.


Basic Bread Dough

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp dried yeast

1 tsp salt

1 tsp butter melted

1 cup water

1 cup milk

1/8 white pepper

Combine water and milk and warm in the microwave for one minute till warm but not hot.

Put the yeast in a large bowl with the sugar and add some of the water milk mixture and combine. Allow the yeast to bloom for about 10 - 15 minutes.

When the yeast has become frothy, add the melted butter and pepper and salt, a little more of the water, then gradually add the flour. This can be done either by hand or with an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook.

Add the water and milk gradually, till a soft dough has formed, then allow the mixer to knead the dough till it starts to leave the sides of the bowl cleanly. Depending on the humidity of your kitchen, you may not need all of the liquid....

Remove from the bowl and knead by hand for till it forms a ball of dough that is smooth but not tacky.

Put it an oiled bowl and cover with cling flim, and allow to rise for about 1-1 1/2 hours, till doubled in size.

After the dough has risen, remove the dough from the bowl and knead by for about five minutes. Then shape the dough as you like, and allow the dough to rise for a second time, for about 30 minutes.

While the dough is rising, heat the oven to 425f and bake the bread for about 30-40 minutes. The bread is done when a hollow sound is heard when you knock on the bottom of the loaf.

To make the cheese bread, after the first rise, roll out the dough to make a rectangle shape as to about half an inch thick. You may have to allow it to rest a time or two as it will want to pull back. When you have done this, sprinkle two cups of your favourite grated cheese over the dough, leaving one egde to without the cheese. Brush the edge with beaten egg and roll up the rectangle as though making sausage rolls, then cut into two inch peices and place on a baking tray, cut side up, with the sides of the rolls touching. Cover with a tea towel and allow to rise for about 30 minutes. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds, then bake in a 425f prehated oven for about 25-30 minutes