This tasty and easy French bread is delicious fresh out of the oven with dipping oil but can also easily serve as sandwich bread for a picnic or lunch on the go.

Yield: 2 loaves

Ingredients:

Bread:

1¾ cups warm water

2 envelopes active dry yeast (4½ teaspoons)

1½ tablespoons oil

2¼ teaspoons salt

5½ cups flour

1½ cups chopped Kalamata olives (green or black)

2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves (optional)

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

Dipping oil (optional):

1/3 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic

2 teaspoons rosemary

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions:

In the bowl of an electric mixer, stir warm water and yeast until combined.

Add oil, salt, and flour and stir until just mixed.

Add olives and rosemary and mix for 2–3 minutes. If dough feels very wet, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Mixture should be smooth but a little sticky.

Spray a medium bowl with oil. Place dough in the bowl and coat with some of the oil to keep it from drying out.

Cover bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise for 30–40 minutes or until dough doubles in size.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Punch dough down on a floured surface. Cut dough in half.

Pull and pat half of dough into a 15”x10” rectangle. From the long side, roll the dough into a long loaf. Tuck the ends under and place on baking sheet.

Repeat with the other half of the dough.

Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise for another 30–45 minutes or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Beat egg with water. Brush on the loaves.

Make 4–5 diagonal slits on the tops of loaves (about ¼” deep)

Bake for 15 minutes.

In the meantime, in a bowl, combine dipping oil ingredients. Allow to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes to allow flavors to blend.

Brush bread with dipping oil. Bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, until bread is golden and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.

Serve with dipping oil, butter, or your favorite sandwich filling.