Wolfgang Puck Recipes

	Mix until the dough pulls cleanly away from the bowl.
	Toss the olives with 2 teaspoons of flour.
	Lightly knead the dough into a ball, cover, and let rest for 45 minutes.
	Shape the dough into two baguettes, sprinkle with flour, cover and let rest for a further 45 minutes.
	Make a slash with a sharp knife or razor blade down the center of each loaf prior to baking.

Olive-French Bread

Makes 2 loaves

The olives give this bread a delicious Mediterranean flavor. With this recipe timing is very important. Be sure to run the mixer exactly as specified.

Ingredients

5 cups plus 2 teaspoons bread flour
2 cups cold water
1-1/2 packages active dry yeast
4 ounces Nicoise olives, pitted and sliced (roll a rolling pin over the olives to make them easier to pit)
2 teaspoons salt

Insert the dough hook into an electric mixer and on "1" or "low" speed, combine 5 cups flour and the water for 4 minutes. Sprinkle the yeast over the dough, turn the speed to 2, and mix about 5 minutes longer. (Dough will pull cleanly away from the bowl.)
Toss the olives with the 2 teaspoons flour, add to the dough with the salt and mix 2 minutes longer. Remove the bowl from the mixer, cover with a clean tea towel, and let rest for 15 minutes.
Turn the dough out on a heavily floured surface, lightly knead into a ball, and let rest, covered for 45 minutes.
Punch out the air, cut the dough in half, and shape into two baguettes. Place the loaves on one or two baking trays, sprinkle with flour, cover with the towel, and let rest for 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400° F.
With a single edge razor blade or a very sharp knife, make a slash down the center of each loaf. Carefully slide the breads onto a baking stone and bake 10 minutes. Spray with water (a spray can or bottle used for misting plants works well) and continue baking until the bread is well-browned, about 1 hour and 10 minutes longer. (Baking at 4000° F will give you a crustier bread, but you can bake the bread at 425° F for 1 hour, 10 minutes.) Cool on a rack.