apple hearth bread

Sweet apples and salty bread provide an intriguing contrast in taste.

To ensure that the hearth bread remains light and crisp, keep the dough soft: Don't work in too much flour and knead it gently.

Makes 1 loaf (6 servings)

In large bowl of heavy-duty electric mixer, combine 1½ cups flour, the yeast, and salt. Slowly beat in water, ¼ cup olive oil, and the honey; vigorously beat mixture 10 minutes. Cover bowl with clean cloth and let dough rise in warm place, away from drafts, 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt butter. Add apple slices and saute' until very lightly browned; set aside.

After dough has risen 40 minutes, turn out onto floured surface.

Gently knead in as much of remaining ¼ cup flour as necessary to form a very soft dough - about 1 minute. Gently work apple slices into the dough.

Lightly oil large baking sheet. With floured fingers, shape dough into a 9 inch round on oiled sheet. Cover with clean cloth and let rise in warm place, away from drafts, until double in size - about 30 minutes.

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. With pastry brush, coat top of dough round with 2 tablespoons olive oil; sprinkle with coarse salt, if desired. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until hearth bread is browned.

Drizzle hearth bread with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and serve warm.

Nutritional information per serving - protein: 4 grams; fat: 20 grams; carbohydrate: 34 grams; fiber: 2 grams; sodium: 195 milligrams; cholesterol: 5 milligrams; calories: 335.

From: Country Living, September, 1992.