Cheesy Italian Oatmeal Pan Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 -5 cups flour, divided
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages yeast
• 1 egg
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted

Recipe

• 1 spray 13*9 baking pan with no stick spray (other pans work as well - i used a large round baking stone with great success).
• 2 bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan (or in the microwave); stir in rolled oats and butter.
• 3 cool to about 100 degrees (i got impatient and added a couple of ice cubes to cool it down quicker).
• 4 combine sugar, salt, yeast and 1 1/2 cups of the flour in a large mixing bowl, blend well.
• 5 add rolled oats mixture and egg. blend at a low speed with an electric mixer till moistened, beat 3 minutes at medium speed.
• 6 by hand, stir in 1 3/4 cup to 2 1/2 cups flour and the mozzarella cheese to form a stiff dough.
• 7 (*i just put everything in my standing mixer bowl and mixed it with the dough hook.).
• 8 if kneading by hand, knead in 1/2-3/4 cup flour on a floured surface till dough is smooth and elastic.
• 9 (depending on your flour, humidity in your home, etc., you may need more or less flour - you want a smooth, elastic dough that is not too sticky.).
• 10 shape dough into a ball and let rest for 15 minutes.
• 11 punch down dough and press into prepared pan. using a very sharp knife, cut diagonal lines 1 1/2 inches apart, cutting completely through the dough (i didn't cut all the way through and it pulled apart just fine).
• 12 repeat in opposite direction, creating a diamond pattern.
• 13 cover and let rise in a warm place till light and doubled in size (about 45 minutes - less if you use rapid rise yeast).
• 14 heat oven to 375. uncover dough, redefine diamond pattern if you like.
• 15 combine parmesan cheese, basil, oregano and garlic powder and set aside.
• 16 spoon 2-4 t of butter across the dough.
• 17 bake 10-15 minutes.
• 18 brush remaining butter over partially baked bread.
• 19 sprinkle with parmesan/herb mixture. bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, till golden brown.
• 20 serve warm or cool.