Mediterranean Bread Bread Machine Recipes

FRESH TOMATO AND BASIL LOAF (BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• 1. NOTES: I keep making this bread and finding ways to improve the process. This bread was tricky for the bread machine but I will continue to use the machine. I used the dough cycle and found that I needed to add more water at the beginning because it just seemed to dry. About 1/4 to 1/2 cup water should do it. Since making again, when the machine is on last knead, I add the veggie ingredients. This made the dough too wet, so I added more flour, adding a little at a time until it seemed to be the right consistency. Even with the extra work involved, this bread is my all time favorite and I will continue to make it.
• 2. In a small frying pan heat olive oil over a moderate heat. Once hot, add onions; fry for 3 to 4 minutes until light golden color.
• 3. Add tomatoes and basil; cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes until tomatoes are softened.
• 4. Remove from heat; drain through a sieve placed over a bowl to catch juice. NOTE: Juice will be used so don't toss. Press mixture gently with back of spoon to extract as much juice as possible. Set tomato mixture aside as well as the juice.
• 5. Add water to the reserved juice to make 1 1/4 cup liquid.
• 6. Pour liquid into bread pan.
• 7. Add flour, ensuring that the liquid is covered. Add pepper, salt and sugar in separate corners in the bread pan.
• 8. Make a shallow indentation in the center of the flour; add yeast.
• 9. Set machine to dough cycle; press start. NOTE: I used the 2 lb loaf setting. Not really sure if that matters since I only used the dough setting. Press start. NOTE: check to make sure dough is moist enough; add additional water if needed soon after you start the machine. I found I needed to add extra water.
• 10. Lightly grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan; set aside.
• 11. When dough cycle is complete; remove dough and place on a lightly floured surface. Punch down gently.
• 12. Knead in reserved tomato mixture. You may need to add extra flour if dough is too moist. NOTE: See note in step 1. I am now added the tomato mixture into the bread maching during last kneading. Totally up to you.
• 13. Flatten the dough and shape into a 1 inch thick rectangel. Fold the side to the middle and press down the edge to seal. Make a hollow along the center and found in half again. Gently roll into a loaf about 16-inches long. Shape into an "S" shape and place in prepared pan. Cover with oiled plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place to rise for 35 to 40 minutes. Meanwhile preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• 14. Make a glaze by mixing egg yolk and water together. Brush over top of bread. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes.

MEDITERRANEAN HERBED BREAD

Steps:

• Make 1 ½-Pound Recipe with bread machines that use 3 cups flour, or make 2-Pound Recipe with bread machines that use 4 cups flour.Measure carefully, placing all ingredients in bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.Select Basic/White cycle. Use Medium or Light crust color. Remove baked bread from pan, and cool on wire rack.1 Slice: 135 calories (10 calories from fat) 1g fat (0g saturated) 0mg cholesterol 300mg sodium 29 carbohydrates (1g dietary fiber 4g proteinSUCCESS TIPWe found from our testing that the same amount of yeast is needed for both the 1 ½-pound and 2-pound loaves.TRY THISDried herbs can be used when fresh herbs aren't available. For the 1 ½-pound loaf, use ½ teaspoon each of dried basil, oregano and thyme leaves for the 2-pound loaf, use ¾ teaspoon of each.From "Betty Crocker's Best Bread Machine Cookbook, The Goodness of Homemade Bread the Easy Way." Text Copyright 1999 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MEDITERRANEAN OLIVE BREAD

Steps:

• Combine yeast and warm water in small bowl and let stand about 5 minutes.
• In large mixer bowl, beat sugar and butter until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition, then finally stir in yeast mixture.
• Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour and beat at medium speed for 10 minutes Stir in 1 1/2 cups more flour just till moistened. Scrape dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead, adding flour to prevent sticking , until dough is smooth (about 7 mins.). Put dough in a lightly greased bowl and turn over to grease the top.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until dough is doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours (I find my oven, even when turned off, is the warmest place in my house).
• Drain olives well, then pat dry.
• Turn dough out on a lightly floured board and knead to expel air; add flour to prevent sticking. Pat dough into a 14-16 inch square. Scatter olives eenly over the dough and press in lightly. (Optional, at this point I also like to add my garlic and scatter it between the olives).
• Roll up dough to enclose olives and place seam side down on a greased 12x15 inch baking sheet. Turn open ends of dough under to make a smooth surface. Pat loaf to flatten and shape it into an oval about 1 3/4 inches thick. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until puffy, about 30 minutes.
• Uncover loaf and brush with egg yolk. Bake in a 325 degree Fahrenheit oven that's been preheated, baking about 45 minutes Transfer to rack to cool for at least 10 minutes Serve warm or at room temperature.
• If made ahead, let cool, package airtight, and let stand overnight at room temperature Freeze to store longer; let thaw, wrapped, at least 6 hours. To reheat, place unwrapped loaf on a 12x15 inch pan in a 325 degree oven for 20-30 minutes
• (The original recipe also recommended using either unsalted butter or "Anchovy Butter [food process 5 drained anchovy fillets with 1/2 cup unsalted butter, and it can be stored covered and chilled for up to a week] but I don't use it since my children would refuse anything with Anchovies.).

OLIVE BREAD FOR THE BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• Place the ingredients, except olives, in the bread pan in the order recommended by your machine's manufacturer.
• Process on the appropriate cycle.
• Add olives at the raisin/nut signal or 5 to 10 minutes before last kneading cycle ends.
• I prefer to make it with the dough cycle; shape it in 2 loaves and let is rise for 30 minutes.
• Bake in a pre heated375* oven for 30 minutes.
• Option:.
• Add 1 1/2 cup old or sharp shredded cheddar cheese with the flour for a Cheese Olive Bread; fantastic.
• Tip:.
• For my bread to rise, I heat 2 cups of water in microwave for 5 minutes; this creates steam. Leave water in microwave. Sit your bread in microwave OFF for 30 minutes.Your bread will rise really nice.