Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. honey
• 1 cup fresh, thick sourdough starter
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
• 1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning, crushed
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
• 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 3 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 1/2 cup finely diced pepperoni, if desired
• 2-3 cups unbleached flour

Directions

1. Stir honey into warm water in a small bowl; sprinkle in yeast and set aside for 5 minutes, until yeast is foamy.
2. Put sourdough starter in a large mixing bowl. Add the yeast mixture. Sprinkle salt, garlic powder, and herbs over the top; mix briefly. Add egg, melted butter, parmesan cheese, tomato paste, and pepperoni; mix together well.
3. Add flour, ½ cup at a time, until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and has an elastic texture, about 8 minutes with a heavy-duty mixer – by hand it may take 10 to 15 minutes. Place the dough into a large greased bowl and cover loosely.
4. Let rise about 1 hour, until dough has doubled. Punch down and turn out dough onto a clean surface.
5. Shape into a loaf and place in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan. Cover loosely and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.
6. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when thumped on the bottom.

7. Long-rise Method

8. For a long-rise loaf mix ¼ cup water with sourdough starter. Stir in herbs and 2 to 3 cups flour, until dough is very thick. Cover loosely and let sit overnight at room temperature.
9. When ready to bake, sprinkle yeast over ½ cup warm water in a small bowl with honey added and set aside for 5 minutes.
10. Blend tomato paste with melted butter and parmesan cheese. Add the yeast mixutre and mix thoroughly into sourdough mixture using a heavy duty mixer or by hand.
11. Stir in additional unbleached flour only if needed to get the proper consistency.
12. Stir in pepperoni after all other ingredients are mixed in.
13. Proceed with kneading, rising, shaping, and baking as above. This method works best if you are using all whole wheat flour.

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