Mediterranean Black Olive Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup chopped black olives
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees f/45 degrees c)
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal

Recipe

• 1 in a bowl, mix together flour, yeast, sugar, salt, garlic powder, italian seasoning, black olives, olive oil, and water.
• 2 turn out dough on a floured board.
• 3 knead until smooth- about 5 to 10 minutes.
• 4 let rise about 45 minutes, until it doubles in size and punch down.
• 5 knead for another 5 to 10 minutes an let rise for 30 minutes, until it doubles in size.
• 6 round the dough on kneading board.
• 7 place dough upside down in a bowl lined with a lint-free, well floured towel.
• 8 let rise until double in size.
• 9 while the bread is rising for the third time, put a pan of water in the bottom of the oven.
• 10 preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• 11 gently turn loaf out onto a sheet pan that has been lightly oiled and dusted with cornmeal.
• 12 bake loaf at 450 degrees f for 15 minutes.
• 13 reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake for 30 more minutes, or until done.