Home for a couple of days. As I drove into the village yesterday, this was the view that greeted me.
Quite a welcome. And that was nothing in comparison to the welcome I got from my beloved pup, Marco. Think he missed me as much as I missed him. Treated him to sunny walk and a swim in the firth. Two of his favourite things.
Then we got home and I did one of my favourite things. Made bread.
Olive Bread
(Makes one big loaf)
300ml warm water
1 tspn dry active yeast
400g strong white flour
1 tspn salt
Big handful of black olives (approx. 20), chopped roughly
1 tspn dried oregano
Olive oil
Fine ground cornmeal
- Add the yeast to the warm water and set aside until the yeast foams a little (around 10 mins).
- In a large bowl stir together the flour, salt, olives and oregano. Add the yeasty water and stir to create a wet dough. Leave for 5 mins.
- Smear a little olive oil onto your work surface and plop the dough out onto it. Knead for a couple of minutes. (You might need to add a tiny bit more flour if the dough is really too sticky to do anything with but don’t add much. I just dip my hands in flour a couple of times if need be.)
- Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a teatowel. Leave in a warm (not too hot!) place for 30 mins until doubled in sized.
- Knead the dough for a couple of minutes again and place back in the bowl for another 30mins.
- Final stage. Line a baking tray with baking paper and dust with cornmeal (or more flour if you don’t have cornmeal). Place dough onto work surface and pull into a flattish rectangular shape. Roll dough up lengthways and tuck the ends underneath. Place seam side down and cover with the tea towel again. Leave to double in size in the same warm place.
- Meanwhile, heat your oven to 210 oC (or 200 oC if fan assisted). When oven reaches the right temperature place a cake tin of hot water in the bottom of the oven. Leave for 10 mins to let the oven get steamy.
- Dust the risen dough with cornmeal and use a knife to make 3 slits across the top of the loaf. Place in the oven and bake for 40 mins until golden.
- Leave to cool on a rack before eating.
A Wee Bit of Cooking 
Scotland, Marco and Bread, what could be better!!
Wendy, the view is just beautiful….sigh. Marco looks very content, but I imagine the water in the firth must be quite chilly this time of year! I must make this bread…love olive bread…it looks amazing.
Welcome home, even if just for a few days.
Oh, that looks delish! I can almost smell the goodness from here 🙂 Great to see you posting recipes again…and lovely that you had such a welcoming homecoming. I hope all is ok on the homefront…thinking of you and sending you hugs, my friend!
Welcome home Wendy and beautiful bread! I find olive bread irresistible. A February dip in the firth though? Marco’s a better man than I am. x
You can stuff raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…………….your favourite things look so much better!!!!!
a run with marco and breadmaking is a great way to celebrate being home – I love olive bread so should try this – though my bread making mojo has gone again after a brief resurgence
Just beautiful, Wendy, as ever. What better way to spend a day, especially when life is difficult? Bread making is so soothing – I always think making dough is the best way to deal with stress. Hope you’re doing OK, much love x
Just beautiful. Sinbad would have loved that walk too – he can’t keep out of the water even when it is freezing cold. The olive bread looks great and I hope you have a good break back at home.
That’s an amazing view ! And Marco looks delighted to see you again .
You’ve made the making of Olive Bread sound so achievable that I’ll really have to try .
Enjoy your weekend !
I missed you too
take it easy
Sigh —- what a beautiful sight — nothing like coming home, with your lovely pup waiting at the door. Your olive loaf looks delish — yum, the smell of homemade bread!
Still sending good thoughts to you and your mum.
x o x
Man that looks good! I bet is smells so good when warm.
Sounds like a great day all around!
Nothing/nowhere quite like home, is there? Especially with your own resident pup and homemade bread. All looks positively blissful…
I love the lookof that bread and I don’t even like olives.
I think I need a dog. My baby shows little pleasure in my arriving home or to pick him up.