Whole Wheat Crostini with Dried Tomato Tapanade

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup water
• 1-1/2 teaspoons shortening
• 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup bread flour
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons cornmeal
• 1 7-ounce jar dried tomatoes (oil pack), drained (3/4 cup)
• 1/2 of an 8-ounce tub cream cheese
• 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 1 2-1/4-ounce can sliced ripe olives, drained
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/3 cup water

Directions

1. Add the 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water, shortening, whole wheat and bread flours, brown sugar, salt, and yeast to the bread machine pan according to manufacturer's directions for a 1-pound loaf. Select dough cycle.

2. When cycle is complete, remove dough from machine. Divide in half; cover and let rest 10 minutes. Grease a baking sheet; sprinkle with cornmeal.

3. Roll each half of dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12x8-inch rectangle. Starting at a long side, roll up rectangles jelly-roll style; pinch edges and ends closed. Place loaves, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 to 35 minutes or until nearly double.

4. Using a sharp knife, make three or four slashes across the top of each loaf. Brush with water. Bake in a 375 degree F oven about 25 minutes or until lightly browned and bread sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on wire rack.

5. For Dried Tomato Tapanade, place dried tomatoes, cream cheese, pine nuts, olives, basil, garlic, and the 1/3 cup water in a food processor bowl; process until almost smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Transfer to covered container. Cover and chill up to 1 week. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

6. Cut each loaf of bread into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place in a single layer on baking sheets. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Spread each slice with about 1 teaspoon Dried Tomato Tapanade. Makes about 56 servings.

Make-Ahead Tip: Up to 1 week ahead, prepare the tapanade. Before serving, let tapanade stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Prepare and cool bread; wrap in foil and place in airtight container or plastic freezer bag. Seal, label, and freeze up to 1 week. Thaw 1 hour at room temperature before slicing.