Pesto Herb Bread

It's been a while since I've baked up some bread...and this one sounded like a good way  to get me started up again!  The aroma this sent through my house as it was cooking was absolutely to die for!  I found this recipe while browsing around on This Chick Cooks.  It would be wonderful as a side to any pasta dish

3 1/4 cups bread flour (I have also used all purpose and it turned out great)
3 T sugar
1 T parsley flakes
1 1/2 t garlic powder
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast (or 1 pack)
1 t oregano
1 t basil
3/4 t salt
1 cup water
3T milk
2 T pesto
2 t olive oil

Heat your water until its hot enough that you can stick your pinky in there for just a second (about 115 degrees, but I just test with my pinky) Mix water and sugar and add yeast. Let it sit until foamy- about 5 or 10 minutes.

Mix dry ingredients in a food processor. Add wet ingredients and run the food processor for a few minutes (You could also mix with a spoon and then knead it by hand- or you could even follow the dough setting for a bread maker)


Let the bread rise uncovered (30-40 minutes). Punch it down and then put the dough into a greased bread dish.  Spray the top of the dough lightly with cooking spray and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Heat a glass of water up in the microwave until its really hot and steaming and then put the bread in (with your microwave off) and let it rise 40-60 minutes.
 
Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Cover loosely with foil after 20 minutes and bake about 10 more minutes- or until the bread sounds hollow when you tap on the top. Remove from oven and cool on a rack for a few minutes and the remove from pan to finish cooling.