Pale Ale-Sesame Cheese Bread

Makes 1 loaf; 12 slices

1 bottle (12 ounces) Pale Ale Beer
1 package (8 ounces) sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
2 TBLS butter
1 ½ TBLS sugar
1 TBLS whole grain mustard
1 TBLS salt
4 ½ cups bread flour, or unbleached all-purpose flour
2 ¼ tsps (1 envelope) active dry yeast
3 TBLS sesame seeds, divided
white from 1 large egg, beaten with ¼ tsp salt

In medium saucepan over medium heat, combine Pale Ale Beer, cheese, butter, sugar, mustard and salt. Heat mixture, stirring, just until cheese and butter melts. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

In large bowl, whisk together flour, yeast and 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds. Stir in cheese mixture and beat with wooden spoon until soft dough forms. Spread additional flour on flat surface and knead dough 10 minutes, working additional flour into dough. Dough should be smooth and elastic, and no longer sticking to surface.

Place dough in buttered bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Place in warm location and let rise one hour, until doubled. Punch dough down; shape into a 7-inch round loaf. Place on buttered baking sheet. Brush top of dough with egg white mixture and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sesame seeds.

Using a very sharp knife, make large X cut, 1/8-inch deep, into top of loaf. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Place in warm location and let rise 45 minutes or until almost doubled.

Preheat oven to 375. Place loaf in oven and bake 20 minutes. Loosely cover loaf with foil, return to oven and bake additional 20 minutes until crust is deep golden and loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Cool completely on wire rack before slicing.

Nutrition Analysis, Per Serving:
310 calories; 10 g fat; 5 g saturated fat; 41 g carbohydrate

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