Olive Cheese Bread

When I first discovered food blogs I inevitably stumbled upon The Pioneer Woman's blog. If you've been online researching recipes for any amount of time you've very likely been there yourself, she's hard to avoid. Ill admit that at first I found her blog a little busy and very annoying. Seriously? Who has time to home-school their kids, be a great photographer, an amazing cook and gardener AND blog about it all? That person has to be ridiculously annoying. So I moved on. A little petty I know, but I have my own self worth issues, I don't need to compare myself to Martha Stewart of the Central Plains.

Anyway, fast forward a few years. I went to a neighborhood bunco night and the host had made this AMAZING olive bread. Sorry for you olive haters. No way around it with this recipe. This stuff was SO good it almost made me forget about the snickers salad and Portillos chocolate cake she had for dessert. When I asked for the recipe she shared that it came from the Pioneer Woman's cookbook. Oh Damn! That crazy lady again? She was all over the place!

Whatever... this stuff was SO good I didn't care who made it, I just needed the recipe! I borrowed the cookbook from a friend and started looking through it. It was one of those cookbooks that actually reads like a biography, and it was GREAT. I know, I hate to admit when I'm wrong. Turns out the Pioneer Woman actually has a name (Ree Drummond) and an amazingly interesting story. So like her kabillion other followers, I'm now hooked. I love her. She is awesome and has since taken over the Neely's #1 spot in my Food Network loving heart. Long story I know- but seriously this stuff is SO SO GOOD. Make it for Thanksgiving as an app, or a holiday party, or on a Sunday afternoon, or as a side for an Italian main course. Or do as Ree suggests and make the topping and spread it on crackers (tried that too, SO GOOD!) I actually add kalamata olives to the recipe and find it gives it even more flavor. Just cut back a little on the green and black ones. I hope you love it as much as I do!

~Wendy

 

Olive Cheese Bread

Recipe Type: Appetizer

Author: The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

• One 6-ounce can black olives, drained


• One 6-ounce jar pimiento-stuffed green olives, drained


• 2 stalks green onions


• 1 stick butter, at room temperature


• 1/2 cup mayonnaise


• 12 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, grated


• 1 loaf crusty French bread, sliced lengthwise

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.


2. Roughly chop both the black olives and pimiento-stuffed green olives. Slice the green onions into thin pieces.


3. Combine the butter, mayonnaise, cheese, olives and green onions in a mixing bowl. Stir together until thoroughly combined.


4. Spread the mixture onto the French bread. Bake until the cheese is melted and browning, 20 to 25 minutes.

Notes

The mixture can also be refrigerated (up to 2 days) and used as a dip. Great with crackers!

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