Toss yeast, warm water, buttermilk, and sugar into a stand mixer bowl. Whisk and let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes.

Add butter, egg, garlic powder, salt, and flour (1 cup) and beat at low mixer speed. Toss in the rest of the flour. Mix until your dough starts pulling out from the bowl's sides.

Knead the dough by hand using a floured surface. If it gets too sticky, sprinkle some flour (about 2-3 teaspoons) until it's soft and slightly tacky.

Lightly coat a big bowl with non-stick spray or oil. Pop your dough in there and wiggle to cover it entirely in oil. Drape over it with plastic wrap, foil, or a dry kitchen towel.

Place that dough in a warm spot for about 2 hours until its size doubles. Grease a 5 x 9 loaf pan.

Give the dough a good punch to release any trapped air. Plop it onto a floured surface. Roll that dough into a 15 x 9 rectangle. Sprinkle cheese over it, leaving about a half an inch border around the edges.

Roll it into a 15'' log. Slice it half lengthwise and crisscross one half over the other to make an X shape. Twist those halves together and pinch the ends. Tuck some cheese squares (optional) into your dough.

Pop everything into the loaf pan. Cover the pan with foil or plastic wrap and let it rest for about 30 minutes. Adjust your oven rack to the low third and preheat to 350°F.

Mix some melted butter with herbs + garlic powder. Brush that mixture all over the top of your dough.

Bake until it's golden brown. Also, when you give the top a gentle tap, it should sound hollow.

Remove it from the oven. Let it sit for about 10 minutes in its pan. Next, remove it from that pan so it can cool completely on the wire rack. Slice it up and dig in!