Sweet apples and salty bread provide an intriguing contrast in taste. o 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) 1.
In large bowl of heavy-duty electric mixer, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, the yeast, and salt.
Slowly beat in water, 1/4 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 1/4 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.