Monday's Menu

Last Monday, I gave you my favorite white bread recipe. Now is the fun part. You can take that basic recipe (or any bread one for that matter) and make lots of wonderful things that will make your family and friends fall at your feet and call you bless-ed.

In fact this is one of them. I told my family I was going to start with something else and my children begged me to do this instead so they could enjoy what was left after the pictures.

To make a wonderful garlic bread, you can simply add a couple of teaspoons of garlic powder and a couple of tablespoons of parsley (or oregano if you wish) to that recipe when mixing it up. It comes out very pretty even before it's baked.

You can see the parsley in the dough.

If you want to step it up a notch though, just do your kneading and then flatten it out to roll it into a loaf. But before rolling it, sprinkle on some pepperoni. I didn't realize I was running low or I would have put more on this one.

BUT don't put too many on. It isn't a pizza. The weight of too much filling will keep the loaf from rising. Then sprinkle on some mozzarella.

Just don't go overboard, again. Then you just proceed as planned. Roll it tightly into a loaf. Cut it in half. Place the halves into greased loaf pans and allow it to rise.

Then bake. Now if I had put on more pepperoni, you would clearly see the swirl of pepperoni through the center. Instead of just the one piece there. Doesn't matter of course. My family wolfed it down.

Of course you can do other meat and cheese combinations too. Another favorite is to buy the thin sliced roast beef and layer it with slices of provolone. Mmmmmmm. So try your hand at a little filled bread.

Pepperoni Bread

1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
3 Tablespoons sugar
3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk, warmed
1/2 cup warm water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 Tablespoons butter or margarine, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 Tablespoons parsley or oregano
Sliced pepperoni
Shredded mozzarella


Mix together water, yeast, milk, and butter. Set aside. Mix together sugar, about 2 1/2 cups flour, salt, garlic powder, and parsley or oregano. Add yeast water and lemon juice. Mix well, adding enough of remaining flour to form a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface. Place in warm greased bowl and allow dough to rise in a warm place for about 2 hours or until double in bulk. Punch down dough and turn out onto floured surface. Knead until soft and elastic. Shape into a rectangle. Layer lightly with pepperoni and mozzarella. Beginning at long end, roll tightly. Cut in half and place each piece in a greased loaf pan. Allow dough to rise in warm place for about 1 hour or until double in bulk. Bake in 350 degree oven until done -- about 15 - 30 minutes.