Homemade, soft, pull-apart bread stuffed full of melted cheesy deliciousness? Oh yes.

What inspired this recipe, you ask? It was pure and total selfishness and that’s the truth.

See, I was serving salad as a main dish for our lunch. The salad was to include mixed greens and other veggies plus flavorful chunks of chicken, so I knew all my men would enjoy it. But I also knew that if I didn’t feed them something a little more substantial with their salad, I’d be hearing the “now what can I have to eat” question right about the time we finished putting salad bowls into the dishwasher.

See? It was selfishness.  I did not want to hear that question. I am over that question. That question makes all mothers want to run in unladylike fashion to the far corners of anywhere but the kitchen. Am I right? I am right.

So I searched online for a fun new kind of bread to go with our salads. The boys all thought I made the bread to treat them to something special. Don’t tell them otherwise. Yes boys. I was June Cleaver delighted to make you this special treat for lunch. (And also, I am very, very selfish and wanted to keep your bellies full until the next actual meal time so that I wouldn’t hear the question.)

Now that my confession is out of the way and you understand the heart behind the recipe, you too can be selfish and make this for your family. This might be the best selfish act you and I will ever commit.

Whole Wheat Stuffed Cheesy Bread (adapted from this recipe)Yum

Dough

1 teaspoon honey
3/4 cup warm water (about 110°)
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 Tablespoons melted butter or coconut oil
2 cups whole wheat flour (I use freshly ground flour from hard white wheat)
3/4 teaspoon sea salt

Cheese Filling

2 cups shredded cheese (I used Colby jack for this)
1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

In a large mixing bowl, stir together honey, water, and yeast. Allow mixture to sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes foamy. Add melted butter (be sure it’s not too hot so it won’t kill the yeast). Stir in flour and salt until well combined. Knead dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes. (Here’s a video showing you how to knead dough.)

Place dough back in bowl, cover, and allow dough to rest/rise for about one hour. Meanwhile, mix cheese filling ingredients in a bowl.

Heat oven to 450°. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into an 8″ square. Scoop about 1/2 cup cheese mixture onto one side of each square. Fold the dough over the cheese and press edges lightly together. Use a sharp knife to slice the dough into 6-8 one-inch strips, stopping just before the folded edge. Sprinkle remaining cheese evenly over the top of the prepared bread.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until bread is golden brown. Serve right away. Makes 16 Cheesy Bread Sticks.

Note:  In the following pictures, you’ll notice that I doubled the recipe.
Instead of 2 cheesy breads, I made 4. I didn’t want to run out. Remember the selfishness.

And there you have it. A delicious act of selfishness. This was a perfect side with our salads. This bread also tastes great dipped in pizza sauce.

Are you also tired of the question?