Rosemary and Garlic Bread

I have made this type of bread several times using different herb bread recipes and all have turned out fine. It is also always a nice surprise to see how the design of the garlic and herbs looks. 

 

Try this link for a   Rosemary Bread Recipe which has a good savoury flavour and is easy to make.  I put all the ingredients into the bread machine and let the machine do the hard work of kneading.  When it is time to rise I let it rise in a barely warm oven.

Arranging the Picture 

While the bread is rising the first time arrange the design in the pan. Grease the pan generously so vegetables and herbs do not stick to the pan. You could also grease some parchment paper and use that on the bottom of the pan. Select a well formed garlic bulb and cut the end off so it is flat and all the cloves are exposed. Set the bulb cut end down so it looks like a crysanthemum flower. 

Add rosemary to form a wreath like decoration. Without breaking the rosemary twig apart, crack the stem to form a curve in the pan.   Add bits of red and green pepper bits and green onions or chives to simulate stems and leaves.  

Positioning the Dough

             

After the first rising take the ball of dough and flatten it gently but deliberately until it is wide enough to cover the pan you are using.  I sometimes use all the dough in a bigger (10 1/4 inch or 26 cm) spring board pan.  Sometimes I separate the dough and use two smaller pans and and make thinner bread.  I have also  used a cast iron frying pan to make smaller loaves and it works very well.

Gently lay the dough over the design you have created and let dough rise a second time.

Bake according to the recipe you used.  When you take it out of the oven turn it over and if any bits of the decoration have stuck to the pan just carefully scrape them off and replace into the design.  You may have to cut the top off so that it will lay flat when it is turned upside down.

To eat, tear off a piece of bread and pick out a clove of garlic.  The garlic will have lost its strong flavour and can be spread on the bread like butter.  It is a unique tasty treat.

I served this with the Brie and Raspberries on a Cedar Plank when we  barbequed this summer.  

Contributed by Olivia.