Provolone Pesto Loaf Recipes

PESTO LOAF

Steps:

• 1. Line a 1 lb. bread loaf pan (9 x 5) with wax paper; make sure you leave enough on each side to wrap over the top when done.
• 2. Mix the soften cream cheese with the minced garlic
• 3. Line the bottom of the pan with 1/3 of the provolone cheese, which is about 7 to 9 slices. Then spread a 1/3 of pesto over the cheese. Next sprinkle 1/2 of diced roasted peppers over the pesto. Finally, spread 1/2 of the garlic cream cheese over the peppers. Make sure the cream cheese is soft so it spreads easily. Don't worry about what it looks like right now. It will all come together in the end.
• 4. Repeat the above layering, ending with the remaining pesto over the cream cheese and a final layer of provolone cheese on top.
• 5. Cover the top with the wax paper that is hanging over the sides and refrigerate overnight.
• 6. The next day open the top of the wax paper, turn over the loaf pan and shake the pan over a serving dish until the loaf comes out of the pan.
• 7. Serving Suggestion: Serve with small and thin French bread slices putting a small slice of the loaf on a piece of French bread.

PROVOLONE AND PESTO CHEESE TORTE

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch-square pan with plastic wrap, extending the ends of the wrap over the edges of the pan.
• Line the pan with the provolone cheese (reserve a few slices for another layer of the torte), overlapping the slices a bit and pressing the edges together slightly. The cheese should extend over the edges of the pan enough that it can help encase the finished torte layers.
• Using a food processor, mix together the cram cheese, butter and garlic. Spread the ingredients in layers in the following order: one-third of the mixture, one-half of the pesto, a layer of provolone, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, one-third of the mixture, the remaining pesto, and the remaining mixture.
• Fold the sides of the cheese over the mixture to encase it, using another slice in the middle, if needed. Fold the edges of plastic wrap over the finished cheese torte, covering tightly. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
• To serve, invert the mold onto a cutting board, remove the plastic wrap and cut the torte diagonally into halves or fourths. Serve with crackers or baguette slices.
• Red and green grapes make a good accompaniment.

ITALIAN SUN-DRIED TOMATO, PROVOLONE AND PESTO TORTE

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Turn off the heat. Place sun-dried tomatoes in the water, and cover for 5 minutes. Drain, and finely chop.
• In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese and garlic.
• Line a medium bowl or loaf pan with a large piece of dampened cheese cloth. Layer with 1/3 of the provolone cheese. Spread with 1/2 of the cream cheese mixture. Pour in 1/2 of the pesto. Layer with 1/2 of the sun-dried tomatoes. Layer with 1/3 of the provolone cheese, remaining cream cheese mixture, remaining pesto, and remaining sun-dried tomatoes. Top with remaining provolone cheese.
• Pull cheese cloth around the layered mixture and gently press into a bowl to mold and remove excess oil. Chill in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours. Remove cheese cloth and invert onto serving platter.
• Garnish as desired with basil, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, lemon wedges, olive oil, etc.
• Enjoy!

PESTO SOURDOUGH LOAF

Steps:

• Add ingredients to bread machine according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Select cycle-- regular white, or dough cycle if baking in conventional oven (yeast is not necessary if baking in conventional oven).
• If baking in oven, at end of dough cycle shape into loaf and place in lightly greased bread pan, or shape into free-form loaf (round or elongate) and place on lightly greased baking sheet.
• Cover and let rise until about doubled.
• Bake at 350 degrees F about 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
• Brush crust with butter if a soft crust is preferred.