Loaded Bacon Cheddar Bread

In a large mixing bowl combine water, yeast, salt and sugar. Allow mixture to sit for several minutes.

Add flour, two cups of cheese, half of the bacon and fresh ground black pepper. Stir with a spoon until combined. Dough will be shaggy. Don’t stress if it looks messy. It will come together in the end.

Cover with a towel and allow to rise in a warm place for an hour.

After an hour, turn dough out onto a floured board and knead for a few minutes. It does not need to be completely smooth. Just knead it long enough to allow it to come together then place dough into a standard-sized loaf pan.

Cover loaf with remaining cheese and bacon. Cover with a towel and allow to rest for thirty minutes. At the end of the rise time, preheat oven to 400 F.

Bake in a 400 F oven for fifteen minutes. Then cover it loosely with foil and reduce heat to 350 F and continue baking for another 25 minutes. Then remove foil and allow it to bake for another 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow it to rest for a few minutes before serving with a bunch of butter!