Pan de Jamon

My husband's co-worker Fernando is Chinese and grew up in Venezuela (I think that is so cool). Fernando requested Pan de Jamon, a traditional Venezuelan Christmas bread.  It is similar to an Italian Stromboli but with ham instead.  This was a request worth trying since, 1. I am not from Venezuela, 2. I love trying anything different, and 3. I enjoy making food when someone else decides what food I should make.  You now know my secret.   I am completely open to suggestions about what I cook.  My favorite way of determining the recipe I will make, is thinking about a food that someone I know would choose.  

Pan de Jamon when translated to English means Ham Bread.  Gustavo Ramella, owner of a bakery in Caracas created this bread in December 1905.  The original Pan de Jamon was only filled with ham.  In 1920, other bakeries began adding almonds, olives, nuts and capers. 

When researching this bread, every photograph I saw showed it having ham, bacon, roasted red peppers, Spanish pimento filled olives, and raisins rolled in dough.

 In your best Spanish accent (Think Spanish Buzz from Toy Story 3) say Pan de Jamon making
sure you pronounce the J like an H.  Fun to say huh, especially with an accent.

Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit

 Ingredients for this recipe are: 1 ball of pizza dough that has risen once (I used homemade, recipe
 found here), 1/4 cup raisins, 2 roasted red peppers, 1/2 cup Spanish pimento filled olives, 1 lb. sliced ham, and 1/4 lb. bacon (cooked, but still soft).

 Roll pizza dough on floured board or parchment as I have done.  Make a large rectangle,
1/4 inch thick.

 Place ham in a row, then cooked bacon, olives, roasted red bell peppers, repeat and spread
roasted red bell peppers and raisins over the whole smorgasbord.  Try to leave the far edge
 uncovered so you can seal the loaf together.  I love the colors and textures of this, don't you?

 Roll, similar to rolling cinnamon rolls.

 If you have made your loaf on parchment paper, move loaf and paper to cookie sheet, otherwise
you need to spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray. Brush egg wash on loaf (eggwash= 1egg
yolk, 1 tablespoon cold water).

Bake in oven for 30-45 minutes.

 This yummy bread is ready to be cut.

 I love the layers, it looks very festive.

Enjoy!