I served it last Sunday on an appetizer tray and everyone who tried it loved it. My chives are going strong in the garden right now and I was able to cut a big, fresh handful just for this recipe. Chives are a wonderful herb to grow in the garden and very hardy even in our cold, Wisconsin winters.
I decided on Sharp Cheddar and Gruyère cheese to use in my bread. Dorie suggests several different kinds of cheese that would be suitable. You can also substitute chopped green onions rather than using chives. This is how it looks before going into the oven......
The toasted walnuts added a delightful crunch.
Cheddar, Gruyère and Chive Bread
Adapted from Around My French Table by Dorie GreenspanPrintable Recipe
Note: Before beginning allow the eggs and milk to come to room temperature
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
12-1 teaspoon salt (use less if you are using a salty cheese)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
3 large eggs
1/3 cup whole milk
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup (4 ounces) coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup (2 ounces) Gruyère cheese, cut into very small cubes
1/2 cup minced fresh chives
1/3 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 F. Butter an 8 inch Pyrex loaf pan.
Place the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl and whisk together.
Crack the eggs into a medium bowl and whisk for about a minute, until foamy. Whisk in the milk and olive oil.
Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and gently mix just until the dough barely comes together. Then, gently fold in the cheeses, chives and walnuts. Less mixing is best here! Scoop out the dough into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the bread is golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool for about 3 minutes. Then, run a knife around the sides and turn the loaf out. Cool completely on the rack, right-side-up.
