Valerie Bertinelli Crazy Easy Bread Food

SPICY CHEESY PULL-APART BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 6-inch cast-iron skillet with canola oil spray.
• Remove the biscuits from the package and lay them out on a clean work surface. Gently pull the layers apart at the middle to divide the biscuits in half. Gently pull each of the halves apart so you are left with four thin, round biscuits each (32 in all). Don't worry if any biscuits tear: just press the torn pieces back together.
• Place 1 teaspoon of the mozzarella in the center of each biscuit round; you will use about 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella for this. Fold the dough around the cheese and roll into balls. Arrange the balls in a circle around the edge of the prepared skillet, then work your way in until you have completely filled the cast-iron pan with the dough balls. If you start to run out of room as you get closer to the center of the skillet, gently push the dough from the center towards the edges of the pan to make more space.
• Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, stir in the scallions, garlic, red pepper and salt. Cook until the butter is just beginning to brown and the garlic is lightly toasted and very fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vinegar. Pour the melted butter evenly over the top of the dough and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
• Bake until the dough is cooked through and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Serve in the skillet.

FRIED BREAD TWO WAYS

Steps:

• Add the yeast, granulated sugar, salt and 3 cups of the flour to the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk to combine and to break up any lumps of flour. Add the water and use a spatula to begin to mix the ingredients. Add the melted butter and the remaining 3 cups of flour and mix again until a very shaggy dough forms. Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the dough hook. Knead the dough on medium-low until all the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl and is elastic and soft to the touch, about 7 minutes.
• Remove the dough from the mixer and divide into 2 pieces. Add one half back to the mixer bowl and add the other half to a large glass bowl. Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the dough in the glass bowl; turn it once to coat and cover it with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.
• Add the rosemary to the dough in the mixer. Turn the mixer on and knead until the rosemary is evenly incorporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the dough from the mixer and place it in a separate large glass bowl. Drizzle it with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil; turn it once to coat and cover it with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Allow both doughs to proof in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• After the dough has doubled in size, fill a large Dutch oven, fitted with a deep-fry thermometer, with about 2 inches of vegetable oil and heat to 360 degrees F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and two rimmed baking sheets with wire racks. Set aside.
• To assemble the Parmesan-rosemary dough balls, use your thumb and index finger to pinch off about 2 tablespoons of dough. Place a cube of Parmesan in the center and close the dough around it, pinching the seam to seal it. Place it seam side down on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Continue the process with the remaining rosemary dough and Parmesan. Set aside the finished dough balls.
• To assemble the jam-filled dough balls, use your thumb and index finger to pinch off 2 to 3 tablespoons of dough. Flatten the dough slightly, then spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of the jam into the center of the dough. Carefully pull the edges of dough up and over the jam, pinching the seam to seal it, making sure to leave no jam exposed. Place it seam side down on the second parchment-lined baking sheet. Continue the process with the remaining dough and jam.
• When the oil is at 360 degrees F, carefully lower 5 to 6 Parmesan-rosemary dough balls into the hot oil. Fry, turning as needed until golden brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a wire rack-lined baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle with salt. Fry the remaining Parmesan-rosemary dough balls, allowing the oil to come back up to temperature before adding another batch. Serve immediately or keep warm in a low oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Top with freshly grated Parmesan before serving.
• To fry the jam-filled dough, carefully lower 5 to 6 dough balls into the hot oil Fry, turning as needed until golden brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to the second wire rack-lined baking sheet. Fry the remaining jam-filled dough balls, allowing the oil to come back up to temperature before adding another batch. Serve immediately or keep warm in a low oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Top with confectioners' sugar before serving.

EASY MILK BREAD

Steps:

• Spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and sprinkle the cornmeal all over the inside of the pan. Tap out any excess.
• Add the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and yeast to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Set the dry mixture aside.
• Add the milk and butter to a small saucepan and attach a candy thermometer. Turn the heat on low and bring the mixture up to 125 degrees F. If the mixture gets too hot, let it cool to the correct temperature before continuing.
• Pour the warm liquid over the dry ingredients and use a rubber spatula to mix until the dough comes together, but is still shaggy. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until the dough is soft and elastic, 2 to 3 minutes. Form the dough into a log and transfer it to the prepared loaf pan, seam-side down. Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm area until it's puffed up and almost doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bake the loaf until the top of the bread is golden and the internal temperature is 190 degrees F, 25 to 30 minutes. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove the bread from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.