Georgian Cheese Bread

== Description ==
* Makes 12 to 16 servings.
== Ingredients ==
* 2 pkg dry yeast
* 1 tablespoon + ½ teaspoon sugar
* 1¼ cups lukewarm milk
* 2 teaspoons salt
* ½ cup butter, softened
* 4½ cups flour
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* salt
=== Cheese filling ===
* 1 pound muenster cheese, shredded
* 2 tablespoons butter, softened
* 1 egg, beaten
== Directions ==
=== Cheese filling ===
# Combine cheese, butter and egg in large mixing bowl.
# Knead vigorously until texture is uniform.
# Shape into thick round cake 8 to 7½ inches in diameter. 
=== Yeast ===
# Sprinkle yeast and ½ teaspoon sugar over milk in small shallow bowl.
# Cover with plastic wrap and place in warm place until yeast blooms and mixture nearly doubles in volume, 5 to 10 minutes. 
=== Bread ===
# Combine 4½ cups flour, 1 tablespoon sugar and salt in large mixing bowl.
# Make well in flour mixture and add milk-yeast mixture and softened butter.
# Beat vigorously with large spoon until smooth.
# Form into ball and place on lightly floured surface.
# Knead hard 10 minutes, adding more flour or water as needed to create medium stiff dough.
# When dough is smooth and elastic, place in large, lightly buttered bowl.
# Cover with plastic wrap and kitchen towel and let rise in warm, draft-free place, such as unlit oven with pilot light on, until doubled in bulk and dough springs back slowly when gently poked with finger, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
# Punch dough down and let rise until again doubled, 30 to 40 minutes.
# Punch dough down and roll out on lightly floured surface into circle about 22 inches in diameter.
# If rolling surface is too small, divide dough in half and roll into 2 half-circles 22x11 inches.
# Roll dough up on rolling pin and unroll carefully over buttered 9-inch cake or spring-form pan or spring-form so that it is centered, with edges overlapping more or less evenly on all sides.
# If using 2 half-circles of dough, form 1-inch seam to make whole circle and moisten thoroughly to seal.
# Carefully press center of dough down to bottom of pan.
# Place cheese filling on dough and bring up edges of dough over filling, forming thick, fabric-like folds.
# Moisten edges at top and seal.
# Let stand 10 to 15 minutes.
# Bake at 375°F in center of oven, with foil underneath in case filling leaks, until golden brown, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
# Cool 1 to 2 hours before serving. 
Category:Georgian Snacks
Category:Georgian Appetizers
Category:Bread Recipes
Category:Muenster Recipes
Category:Wheat flour Recipes
Category:Milk and cream Recipes
Category:Egg Recipes
Category:Yeast Recipes
Category:Recipes that need photos