Comfort Food, Bacon-Chive Bread with Goat Cheese from Salty Snacks by Cynthia Nims

After Italian rooted first recipe, Taralli from Salty Snacks (Ten Speed Press, September 2012) by Cynthia Nims, i think that comfort food is in order after rough waters of this week.

Bacon-Chive Bread with Goat Cheese

Makes 12 to 16 servings

    6 slices thick-cut bacon

    2 cups all-purpose flour

    1 teaspoon baking powder

   ³/₄ teaspoon baking soda

   ¹/₂ teaspoon kosher salt or flaky or coarse 
sea salt

   ¹/₄ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1¹/₂ cups (about 6 ounces) finely crumbled fresh plain goat cheese

   ¹/₂ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

    2 large eggs

    1 cup whole milk

   ¹/₃ cup chopped fresh chives

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon slices and cook, turning the slices over every couple of minutes, until nicely browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain and cool. When cooled, crumble or cut the bacon into small pieces; set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour an 8- or 9-inch round cake pan.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl and stir well to mix. 

Combine 1¹/₄ cups of the goat cheese and the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat at medium speed until smooth. Add one of the eggs and beat until fully incorporated, then beat in the second egg, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Gradually add the dry ingredients with the mixer at low speed, alternating with the milk. Take the bowl from the stand and stir in the bacon and chives by hand, just until incorporated. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top. Sprinkle the remaining ¹/₄ cup of goat cheese over the top.

Bake until the top is lightly browned and the bread pulls away from the sides of the pan, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool slightly in the pan, then turn the bread out onto the rack to cool completely, inverting the bread so that the goat cheese topping is upright.

Cut the cooled bread into 12 to 16 wedges, arrange on a platter or large plate, and serve. The bread will keep for 1 day, well wrapped in foil.

(*Reprinted with permission from Salty Snacks: Make Your Own Chips, Crisps, Crackers, Pretzels, Dips, and Other Savory Bitesby Cynthia Nims, copyright © 2012. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group. Photo Credit:Jennifer Martiné)