I baked this on the feast day of St. Thomas the Apostle, and since I didn't use any proscuitto in the recipe, I have renamed this bread St. Thomas' Bread.
Rose's headnotes in the Bread Bible call this bread "lard bread," and more recent editions of the book include an updated ingredient list that includes lard, plus options for the meat that is folded into the dough.
Although I have had this book for years and bake with it weekly, this is one of the recipes I hadn't baked before. This is one of the joys of baking with a group! How I love the Alpha Bakers!!
Rose's headnotes in the Bread Bible call this bread "lard bread," and more recent editions of the book include an updated ingredient list that includes lard, plus options for the meat that is folded into the dough.
Although I have had this book for years and bake with it weekly, this is one of the recipes I hadn't baked before. This is one of the joys of baking with a group! How I love the Alpha Bakers!!
This is a rustic bread, and the dough is made quickly in the food processor. It's baked in a ring shape and filled with bits of spicy cured meats. I chose capocollo. Note the tub of "Recipe Ready" lard there on the left. Yes, this bread isn't recommended for the cardiac rehab patient. But the lard does lend such a silky richness to the dough, it's worth it. I think, anyway. I feel fine right now.
Note the bits of spicy capocollo kneaded into the dough, along with black pepper and (gulp)...lard. It's probably no worse than butter, but the very sound of the word makes me think I might as well schedule my cardiac catheterization right now.
The dough is shaped into a log first.
And then formed into a ring.
My crystal cake dome worked great as a cover for the rising dough in my warm kitchen. Just one rising period means this bread is very fast to make.
I opted to brush the dough with melted bacon grease. What's a little more pork fat at this point?
The bread is crusty, fragrant and delicious! We served it with shaved slices of Grueyer cheese.
This is such an easy and fast recipe, I think it would be wonderful for a party.
I think I will make it half-sized next time so that we can finish it easily. It's so filling that it's almost a meal in itself and was a lot the two of us and three friends.
Do try it, but if you have an early edition of the Bread Bible, make the updated changes to the recipe! Add 2 TBSP of lard, and use 6 oz of spicy cured meats.
We are all still feeling fine. No chest pain or shortness of breath. So I guess that means this bread didn't push any of us over the edge into coronary artery disease! And it sure is delicious!
A final note on St. Thomas, since I have dubbed this bread in his honor:
Although he is remembered for his famous doubt, "It is because Thomas attained faith through physical touch that we are confirmed in in the faith beyond all doubt." --St. Gregory the Great
Thanks so much, everyone, for stopping by my blog and leaving your comments!
Visit again in August when the Bread Bible Alpha Bakers will be baking Rose's Beer Bread--one of my favorites!
This is such an easy and fast recipe, I think it would be wonderful for a party.
I think I will make it half-sized next time so that we can finish it easily. It's so filling that it's almost a meal in itself and was a lot the two of us and three friends.
Do try it, but if you have an early edition of the Bread Bible, make the updated changes to the recipe! Add 2 TBSP of lard, and use 6 oz of spicy cured meats.
We are all still feeling fine. No chest pain or shortness of breath. So I guess that means this bread didn't push any of us over the edge into coronary artery disease! And it sure is delicious!
A final note on St. Thomas, since I have dubbed this bread in his honor:
Although he is remembered for his famous doubt, "It is because Thomas attained faith through physical touch that we are confirmed in in the faith beyond all doubt." --St. Gregory the Great
Thanks so much, everyone, for stopping by my blog and leaving your comments!
Visit again in August when the Bread Bible Alpha Bakers will be baking Rose's Beer Bread--one of my favorites!
