Italian Bread in a Jar

Another jar recipe.

I love having most of the ingredients already set aside for a quick fix.  For this, all I need to have is yeast, water and butter.  Those are 3 things I typically have in the fridge, which makes this a super quick and easy throw together bread.

As you can see, I use an old pickle jar.  It has been thoroughly washed and de-pickled :)  If your jar has a smell (after being closed in the cupboard for a few days), put some baking soda in it for a while.  Then wash with vinegar and leave open a few days.

In the jar, mix together:

3 cups bread flour

3 Tablespoons Grated parmesan cheese (sometimes I use an italian mix)

1 Tablespoon dry milk

1 Tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons italian seasoning

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

When ready to bake, simply add in:

 9 ounces (1 cup+ 2 Tablespoons) room temperature water

2 Tablespoons room temperature butter or margarine

2 teaspoons active dry yeast (or 1 1/2 tsp bread machine/fast rise yeast)

Mix all ingredients in the breadmaker and set on dough.  When the dough is finished, transfer to a bread pan or cookie sheet.  Bake at 200 degrees F for 20 minutes, then turn the heat up to 350 for the last 10-15 minutes.  Your bread is finished when the crust is crispy and just browning.

*Note:  I do not add the yeast into the jar mix to make sure it stays active and rises properly.

**  With the grated cheese in this recipe I keep the jar in the fridge (I know you buy the cheese in the non-refrigerated section, but once opened the directions say to keep refrigerated)