Asiago Bread

1 C. plus 2 Tbsp. water
2 Tbsp. olive oil or vegetable oil
3-1/2 C. Bread Flour
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. bread machine yeast
1-1/4 C. Asiago, swiss or other firm cheese

1. Measure carefully, placing all ingredients except cheese in bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Select Dough/Manual cycle.  Do not use delay cycle.  Add 1 C. cheese at the beep signal or 5-10 minutes before the last kneading cycle ends.

3. Remove dough from pan, using lightly floured hands.  Cover and let rest 10 minutes on lightly floured surface.

4. Lightly grease cookie sheet with shortening.  Gently shape into football-shaped loaf about 12 inches long, by stretching sides of dough downwards to make a smooth top.  Place with smooth side up on cookie sheet.  Coat load generously with flour.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 20-25 minutes or until almost double.

5. Place square or rectangular pan on bottom of oven rack; add hot water to pan until about 1/2 inch from top.  Heat oven to 450.  Using spray bottle with fine mist,spray loaf with cool water; sprinkle with flour.  Carefully cut 1/2-inch-deep slash lengthwise down center of loaf with sharp serrated knife. Place remaining 1/4 cup cheese in slash.

6. Bake 10 minutes.  Reduce oven temperature to 400.  Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until load is deep golden and sounds hollow when tapped.  Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and cool.

****Alternative baking:  Comes out great baked longer at 350 if baking other things and can not raise oven temp that high.