Memories Of Provence Wheat Loaf

Total Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons herbes de provence
• 3 1/3 cups bread flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 ounce active dry yeast (1 pkg. or 2 tsp)
• 1 3/8 cups warm water
• cornmeal, for dusting baking sheet

Recipe

• 1 place the herbs in a small dish and pour in the olive oil. allow to steep for at least 15 minutes, and the longer, the better.
• 2 place all remaining ingredients except cornmeal in your bread machine following sequence recommended by manufacturer.
• 3 start the dough cycle. as the dough mixes, drizzle on the olive oil until incorporated. the dough should form a smooth ball: add small amounts of flour or water (or additional olive oil) until the dough looks right - the exact proportions depend on many factors. allow to rise in bread machine.
• 4 remove from machine, punch down. if making a loaf, form into an oval loaf and place on cornmeal-dusted baking sheet. cover and allow to rise until doubled. (if making rolls, cut into 8 to 12 pieces, depending on the size you want, and shape as desired. place on cornmeal-dusted baking sheet, cover, and allow to rise until doubled).
• 5 preheat oven to 375 deg. f.
• 6 place in oven and bake for app. 40 minutes or until bread tests done. (rolls will bake 20 to 30 minutes, depending on size - keep an eye on them).
• 7 you know you should let a loaf cool before cutting into it; but when you make rolls, one can always be sacrificed to the cause!
• 8 note: i imagine you could bake this in the bread machine, although i've never done so. i'd do it on a basic setting with medium crust.