ITALIAN OLIVE BREAD

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, pour 2 cups flour and add the dry ingredients. Stir to blend.
• Form a well in the flour and pour in the hot water.
• With a wooden spoon, pull flour into the water to form a batter.
• Break the eggs and drop into the batter.
• Vigorously stir the eggs and batter together till the eggs have been absorbed.
• Cut the butter into 2 or 3 pieces and drop into the mixture.
• With a wooden spoon or mixer flat beater, mix till the batterlike dough is smooth and silky, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, till the dough is a ball and can be turned out of the bowl onto a floured surface.
• The dough should not be sticky because of the high fat content of the butter and eggs, but if it is, add sprinkles of flour.
• Knead by hand or under a dough hook till smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
• Knead with a strong push-turn-fold motion and occasionally lift the dough and throw it back onto the work surface. Be aggressive!
• First rising:.
• Place the dough in a greased bowl and set aside at room temp to rise. (because of its richness, the dough may be slow to rise, but it will double in about 1 1/2 hours - or less if using rapid rise yeast).
• Shaping:.
• Drain the olives and mix the green and black together so they can be uniformly scattered over the dough. Set aside.
• Punch down the dough and turn onto the floured work surface.
• Pat and push the dough into a 14 inch square.
• Allow it to relax for 3-4 minutes before scattering the olives.
• Press the olives lightly into the dough.
• Roll up the dough as for a jelly roll to enclose the olives and place seam side down on a baking sheet/stone.
• Tuck the open ends of the dough under to make a smooth surface.
• Pat the loaf to flatten and shape into an oval about 2 inches thick.
• Second rising:.
• Cover the loaf with waxed paper or plastic wrap and leave at room temp till puffy, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 20 minutes before baking.
• Uncover the loaf and brush with beaten egg yolk.
• Bake in oven till richly browned, about 45 minutes. (Watch your time, depending on how your oven heats - don't over brown, but bake till the loaf sounds a bit hollow when tapped).
• Place on a rack and cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.