It's a Spicy Cheese Bread!

Feeds: 1+

Ingredients:

3.5 C white flour

2.5 C shredded old cheddar

3 jalapenos (2 chopped, 1 sliced into rings)

1 tbsp salt

2 cups warm water

1 tbsp yeast

1 tbsp melted butter

Instructions:

1. Mix the flour, 2 C of cheese, chopped jalapenos, and salt in a large bowl.

2. Combine water (110F is ideal) and yeast. Leave for 5min. Add to flour mixture on and stir until the dough comes together.

3. Using a silicone spatula, fold the dough from the edges of the bowl toward the center, turning the bowl each time for a total of 8 times. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest in a warm place until doubled in size (approx an hour).

4. Put dutch oven with lid in oven and heat to 450F

5. Once dough as doubled, refold dough and turn step above. Cover with the towel and let rest for another 30 minutes.

6. Flour counter generously and carefully pour dough out of the bowl and onto the floured surface. Fold the edges of the dough towards the center 8 times, then flip over the dough and transfer onto a large piece of parchment paper.

7. Paint top of the dough with melted butter and sprinkle remaining .5 cup of cheese on top of dough. Use a sharp knife to score the bread with an “X”. Arrange the jalapeno rings on top of the cheese.

8. Remove Dutch oven from the oven (THIS WILL BE HOT, BE CAREFUL) and use the parchment to carefully lift the bread into the pot. Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the lid and bake for 10-15 more minutes, until the top of the bread is golden brown.

9. Use parchment paper to lift bread out of the pot and onto a wire rack. Remove the parchment paper and let bread cool for at least 1 hour before slicing. This is a critical test of your self-control and willpower. If you cut into the bread too early the inside will be a bit gummy and collapse. Also, it will be as hot as the fires of hell and you will burn your mouth. And fingers. And then mouth again. Go stream some Tiger King and come back after an hour.

Nod to Tasty for this recipe.