Serves: 5
Total Calories: 649
Yield: 2 Medium Loaves

2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1 1/2 cups white unbleached flour
4-5 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 box pitted, very coarsely choppel Kalamata olives
1-2 tablespoon cornmeal for baking sheet

1. Place the yeast and water in a dishpan or large bowl and stir with a wooden spoon. Add the white flour and 2 cups of whole wheat flour, and beat with the spoon until blended. Cover and let sit about 20 minutes, or until the top becomes bubbly. Stir in the salt, olive oil, olives, and more whole wheat flour, a little at a time, until you can’t stir any more.

2. As soon as you can handle the dough, sprinkle with a bit more flour and begin to knead directly in the bowl (or on a floured board), adding more flour as necessary. Knead for about 10 minutes, or until the dough feels smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball.

3. Spread a little olive oil on the bottom and sides of the bowl. Add the ball of dough, then turn it over, oiled side up. Cover and set in a warm spot for about 50 minutes, or until the dough doubles in bulk. Punch down the risen dough and let rise a second time for about 30 minutes, or until doubled in bulk again. Lightly sprinkle a large baking sheet with cornmeal and set aside.

4. After the second rising, punch down the dough, knead for a minute, and form into a ball. Cut in half. Using both hands, pat each half into a torpedo- shaped loaf with a fat middle and gently tapered ends. Place the loaves on the prepared baking sheet, and let rest a couple minutes.

5. Cut a 1/2-inch-deep slash lengthwise down the center of each loaf. Place in a preheated 400ºF oven and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and hollow-sounding when rapped on the bottom with your knuckle. Cool on a wire rack before serving.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 5
Total Calories: 649
Calories from Fat: 96

More Recipes from the Great Natural Breads Made Easy Cookbook:
Honey Whole Wheat Bread
75 Minute Health Bread
Peasant Bread
Wheat-Berry Bread
Corn-Wheat Bread
Oatmeal Bread
Anadama Bread
Grow Your Own Sprouts
Sprouted Wheat Bread
Wheatena Wheat Bread
Soy Bread
Norwegian Rye Bread
Potato-Rye Bread
Rye-Corn-Potato Bread
Pumpernickel Bread
Wheat Germ Batter Bread
Whole Wheat Batter Bread
Ten-Grain Bread
Multigrain Bread
Olive Bread
Multi-Seed Bread
Walnut Bread
Kaffee Klatch Bread