Birthday Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

As the bread baking in the oven fills my house with smells of deliciousness,
my insides get all tight inside and my mouth begins to water as I wait
not-so-patiently for the bread to finish baking.  Homemade bread is
something special and maybe doesn't grace our dinner table as often as it
should (or maybe as often as I'd like).





This recipe for homemade olive oil bread is changing that because it's
really quite simple to make.  No mixer needed, just a big bowl and a
sturdy wooden spoon.  It all comes together rather quickly, but
does require some hang out time on the counter to rise, but with
a little planning ahead, you can have a perfectly delicious loaf of warm
bread ready by dinner time. 





So pull out a big bowl and a wooden spoon and go to work, you’ll be happy
you did.

 

 

Homemade Olive Oil Bread

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

1 teaspoon honey



1 cup lukewarm water



1/3 cup great quality extra virgin olive oil



3 cup all-purpose flour



2 teaspoons kosher salt

In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast, honey, and
water.  Stir to combine and let rest for 5 minutes, or until yeast begins
to foam.  Add the olive oil, flour, and salt and stir to combine into a
shaggy ball.  Place shaggy dough ball on a lightly floured surface and
knead for 1 minute until dough is smooth and a round ball forms.

Brush a little olive oil inside the empty mixing bowl
and place dough back into the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a
warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Once doubled, place dough on a lightly floured surface and
press dough into a rectangle.  Fold in both sides like you are folding a
business letter.  Press gently into a rectangle again and fold again
as you would a business letter and then tuck sides under, forming dough into a
ball.

Preheat oven to 375° F.  Place dough on a parchment
lined baking sheet, brush with olive oil and allow to rise again for 30
minutes, lightly draped with plastic wrap to cover.  Just before baking,
sprinkle with flake salt.

Bake for 30 minutes or until deep golden brown.  Remove bread from oven
and brush loaf of bread with additional olive oil if desired.

Recipe slightly adapted from Live.Love.Lux