Ham and Provolone Braid

This is another fairly easy dinner  or party idea.  Just make your dough and fill it with your choice of meats and cheese.  I used deli have and provolone cheese in this one, I have made some with salami and cheese, meatballs and cheese but I think you choices are endless.

Dough

2 Pkgs rapid rise or instant yeast
1 3/4 cup warm water 115-125
2 TBL sugar
2 1/2 tsp salt
4 1/4 - 4 3/4 cups flour *I used 2 cups bread flour 2 1/2 cups ap flour*
2 TBL vegetable oil
Direction:
In the large bowl of mixer, place yeast, sugar, salt and two cups of flour. (I used 1 cup AP flour 1 cup bread flour) Mix to blend and add the 130 degree F water and oil. Mix on medium speed with regular beater for 3 minutes. Insert dough hook and beat for another 6:30 minutes, adding flour as needed to keep dough from being sticky.
Place dough on a floured board, cover with a cloth, and let rest for 10 minutes. Punch down dough and form into two long narrow loaves. Roll out dough to about 15x20 and place meat down the center, then cheese, then another layer of meat.  Cut stripes on each side then criss cross to make a braid. Place loaves on a greased pan or parchment lined, cover and let rise in a warm place for 30-45 minutes.  You can brush you loaves with an eggs wash and put seeds on top if you like.

Above is a picture of how you bread should look.  And this one is when it's braided.

Hope you give these a try.  I would love to hear if you try them.  Thanks for taking time from your busy day to stop by.  Have a wonderful Day and Remember to Find the Time to Do ALL the things YOU Love.
Donna