Fennel Bread and pizza in a bag

Fennel Bread and pizza in a bag brings fresh bread to the table with ease.  I love fresh bread and there is this fennel bread that our local bakery makes, but they always run out.  I had to find a way to make some. I remember baking bread with my nonna and I wasn’t about to make 12 loaves.  I needed something quick, easy and that anyone could make.  My sister-in-law Kim Allen loves this bread and I had to find an easy way for us to do this.  My Fennel Bread in a bag is as easy as it gets.  I also use this dough to make two round or one large pizza. Pizza in a bag is easy.

This is the dough when it comes out of the bag

The dough cuts easily and now ready to braid.

Ready for the oven. In the long braid we tucked some parmesan shaved cheese. 

Piping hot out of the oven.  

For this pizza I used ricotta and basil on one half and sliced capicollo and ham on the other half. 

Delicious slice for me. 

Ingredients

Dough

• 2 3/4 cup flour
• 5 tsp fast rising yeast
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 egg
• 1 cup warm water

Wash

• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp fennel seeds

Directions

1.  Take a large plastic zip freezer bag.
2.  Put in the flour, sugar,salt and yeast.
3. Combine the olive oil and egg.  Beat lightly. Pour into the bag over dry ingredients.
4. Pour warm water in the bag over everything.
5. Zip bag and knead mixture a few times.
6. Place bag in warm water and let it sit there for an hour.
7. After an hour, open bag and dough will slip right out.  Make sure that you have lightly dusted your counter.
8. Knead dough 5 times and form a ball.
9. Divide ball in two portions
10. Divide each portion in three and braid.
11. Make a wreath and wash with the milk and olive oil.
12. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds over each.
13. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes.