The East Community Guide - Gainesville, FL September 2018 | Page 11

Four Cheese Spinach Dip and Bread
Bread Dough
3 cups all-purpose
1 tsp salt
2 tsp active dry yeast)
1 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp olive oil
Four Cheese Spinach Dip
8 oz spinach, frozen, thawed, drained and chopped
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup Mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 clove garlic
2 spring onions, diced
Red pepper flakes, optional
1/2 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Prepare the bread dough. Stir yeast with sugar until it liquefies. Dissolve in about ¼
cup warm water. In a large bowl mix flour with salt. Add dissolved yeast, oil and ¾
cup warm water. Mix everything together then knead until smooth and pulls away
from the sides of the bowl. 2. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic
wrap and let it sit for about 1 hour at room temperature, to let the dough rise until
doubled in size. 3. Onto a floured surface turn the dough, knead for few seconds and
divide into 16 pieces. Form into balls. 4. Grease a 9 inch (23 cm) cast iron skillet
with butter and the outer side of a 5 inch (13cm) diameter bowl. Place the bowl in
the center of the skillet and arrange the dough balls around the outside of the skillet.
5. Brush the dough with melted butter, Cover the skillet with plastic wrap and let
rise for another 30 minutes. 6. Meanwhile preheat oven to 350 F (180C) and prepare
the spinach filling. In a bowl add cream cheese and mix until smooth. Add the rest
of ingredients: chopped spinach, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Parmesan cheese, green
onion, garlic, red pepper flakes if used, salt and pepper. Mix until combined. 7.
Remove the bowl from the center of the skillet and add the spinach dip into the
center of the skillet. 8. Brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle Parmesan
cheese on top. Bake for about 30 minutes until cheese is melted and bread is golden
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brown. 10. Let it cool slightly for 5 - 10 minutes before serving.