Italian Easter Bread

Ingredients

1 cake yeast

3/4 cup warm water

4 cups flour

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. or more freshly ground black pepper

3/4 cup grated Parmesan, Romano, or Asiago cheese

3 large eggs, beaten

2 T. olive oil

Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Mix the flour, salt, and pepper into a bowl and stir in the cheese.  Pour in the yeast solution, the eggs, and the olive oil and blend well.  Turn onto a lightly floured board and knead thoroughly.  Place in a buttered bowl and let rise until doubled.  Punch the dough down and let rise again until doubled.  Turn the dough out onto a board and knead & shape into a round loaf.  Fit the loaf into a 10″ cake pan, cover, and let rise until doubled.  Brush the top with olive oil and bake in a 350 degree oven for one hour.

Serve with cheese and garlic butter.