Olive bread

This deliciously moist olive bread easy is quick to make. It does well with soups or chilli con carne. It’s good with a hearty bowl of soup or cheese and pickles. I use just enough wholemeal flour to give it some flavour but not so much that it's heavy. I use an overnight starter to give it extra flavour.

Serve this olive loaf very fresh, cut into wedges. The mix of olives can vary to your own taste, or you can use just one kind. The ingredients are readily available from healthfood shops and the recipe is simplicity itself.

Ingredients:

• 8 cups bread flour
• 3 cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 3 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)
• 2 teaspoons molasses
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups kalamata olives, pitted and chopped

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl place water, yeast, and molasses; stir to mix. Let stand for a few minutes until mixture is creamy and foamy.
2. Add flour, about a cup at a time, until dough is too stiff to stir. Add olives and fresh herbs. Add olive oil and salt; mix.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead. Add additional flour as needed to keep dough from becoming sticky. Place in well oiled bowl, and turn to coat the dough surface with olive oil. Allow dough to rise until doubled in volume, about an hour or more.
4. Punch the dough down, split into two pieces, and form into two round loaves. Place on greased baking sheet. Spray with cold water and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired. Let loaves rise for 40 minutes to one hour.
5. Bake the bread at 200°C degrees for about 50 minutes, or until loaves are brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
6. This is a great flavored bread for sandwiches made with cured ham, or for the ultimate cheese toastie. It's great toasted and spread with cream cheese, nut butter or dipped in olive oil. This golden, crusty olive bread has a delicious, moist, close-textured interior. Olives give the bread a traditional flavour, while yeast and cream of tartar help to make the bread rise.

This recipe was provided to you by Zomick's Kosher Bakery, the best bakery listed on Urbanspoon.com. Be a good lad and vote a thumbs up there...