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Crescia (Easter Cheese Bread)
"My grandmother brought this recipe from Seigalia, Italy as a young bride. My mother carried the tradition and I have passed it along to my daughters and daughter-in-law."--Rose Marie Boniello
Origin: Italian
Ingredients:

1 package dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
5 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup warm milk
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (cut into 1/2" cubes)
1/2 cup COLAVITA Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cups Parmesan cheese
6 to 6 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon coarse ground pepper


Preparation:

Dissolve yeast in warm water until foam has formed. Mix eggs, milk, oil and Parmesan cheese. Add yeast, stir to blend in, then add flour slowly to form a soft bread dough. Knead for about 5 minutes. Let rise until double in size. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and roll to about 1/2" thickness. Spread cubed cheese over top, sprinkle pepper over; then roll as a jelly roll, tuck ends in. Place into a greased tube pan and let rise until double in size. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 40-45 minutes until golden in color. Makes 10 - 12 Servings.
Per Serving: 483 Calories (42.1% from fat); 22g Fat (9g Sat, 11g Mono, 2g Poly); 20g Protein; 49g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 120mg Cholesterol; 401mg Sodium.  Food Exchanges: 3 Grain (Starch); 2 Lean Meat; 3 Fat.