Tonight we’re making olive bread, one of our favorites! We are crazy about olives and if you are too, you’ve found the right recipe! Olive bread is a flavorful, creative twist on the usual plain bread, and makes a great side to your dinner or a yummy snack on its own.  Our recipe is for the oven too, so no bread maker needed! (bonus!)  This whole recipe will take about three hours to make!

What you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup chopped and pitted olives (we like Kalamata!)
• 2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup water
• 1.5 tsp. instant yeast
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

Step 1: In a mixer, combine yeast, flour, water, salt, garlic powder and olive oil and roughly mix using a spatula.  Let your mixture rest for 15 minutes (this activates the yeast).

Step 2: Knead dough in the mixture (with the proper attachment) for five minutes, slowly pouring olives into the mixture.  If the dough gets too sticky to the walls of the bowl, add a little flour.

Step 3: Coat a mixing bowl in olive oil, and transfer your dough to this bowl.  Cover and leave in a warm area to rise for about 60 minutes.

Step 4: Knead the dough and then transger to a baking sheet lines with paper.  Shape your dough into a loaf and let rest here for another 60 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 5: Dust your loaf with flour and make three little cuts in the top of the loaf with a knife.  Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Step 6: Remove your sheet from the oven and let cool before slicing!

Buon appetito!