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1
Add milk into a small saucepan, bring to a boil.
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2
Stir in butter and sugar until butter melts and sugar dissolves.
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3
Transfer mixture into a large bowl.
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4
Stir in 1 cup room-temperature water and cool mixture until lukewarm (85F to 95F), 8 to 12 minutes.
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5
Stir in yeast until well blend.
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6
Add olives, thyme and salt.
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7
Stir in 1 cup flour with a wooden spoon until just mixed and most.
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8
Stir in another 3 cups flour, 1 cup at once, and mix with the wooden spoon until incorporated after each addition.
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9
Add up to 13 cup more flour if needed until dough is smooth and begins to pull away from sides of bowl.
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10
Coat a large bowl with cooking spray or oil it.
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11
Transfer dough to bowl, coat the dough with cooking spray or brush with some oil.
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12
Cover with plastic wrap or kitchen towel.
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13
To make ahead:
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14
Chill dough overnight.
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15
To make at the same day:
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16
Allow dough to rise in warm area until doubled in volume, 50 to 60 minutes (do not punch down dough during the rising).
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17
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 500F.
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18
Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
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19
Turn dough out onto floured working surface (to avoid deflating, do not punch down dough and do not knead dough).
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20
Cut dough into 2 equal portions.
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21
Gently form (do not knead) each piece into baguette 15 inches long by 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches wide (dough will not be smooth).
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22
Transfer baguettes to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly apart.
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23
Cover loosely with plastic wrap.
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24
Allow to rise in warm area until slightly puffed, about half an hour to 40 minutes for refrigerated dough and 15 to 20 minutes for room-temperature dough.
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25
Lightly brush egg white on top of each loaf.
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26
Generously spray water inside of oven (9 to 10 sprays), right away put loaves in oven.
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27
Bake 10 minutes.
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28
Reduce oven temperature to 400F and continue baking until loaves are deep golden and sound hollow when tapped, 35 to 28 minutes.
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29
Remove from the oven and let cool on wire rack completely.
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30
Slice and serve.