Baguette

• Step One: Activate Yeast - Place the yeast and sugar in warm water and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes until the mixture is foamy.
• Step Two: Mix Dry Ingredients for Bread - While waiting for the yeast to activate, mix together the gluten-free flour mix, psyllium husk powder, and salt in a large bowl until evenly distributed.
• Step Three: Add Yeast Mixture and Olive Oil - Once the yeast is activated, add the yeast mixture and olive oil to the dry ingredients and mix until all the dry ingredients are mixed in. The dough should have the consistency of soft clay, elastic, cohesive, and sticky without being pourable.
• Step Four: Let Dough Rise In Bowl - Tightly cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 60-75 minutes until the dough is puffed with a well-defined dome on top.
• Step Five: Form Baguette - Turn the dough onto parchment paper lightly dusted with flour. Using damp hands, gently shape into an elongated baguette. Do not knead.
• Step Six: Let Baguette Rise Cover the baguette with plastic wrap and allow it to rise for 30-40 minutes. While it’s doing its second rise, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius)
• Step Seven: Bake Baguette - Bake the baguette at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius) for 40-45 minutes until the outside is golden brown and the inside sounds hollow when the loaf is tapped on the bottom.
• Step Eight: Set Aside to Cool - Set the baguette on a cooling rack to cool for about an hour.
• Step Nine: Make Bruschetta Topping - While waiting for the bread to cool, mix olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper, and optional chili flakes in a medium bowl. Stir in the Roma tomatoes and olives.
• Step Ten: Slice Bread - When the bread is done baking and cooling, slice the bread slightly on the diagonal into ½-inch thick slices.
• Step Eleven: Toast Bread in Skillet - Add olive oil to the skillet, just enough to cover the bottom. Toast bread slices until lightly golden brown on both sides.
• Step Twelve: Serve Crostinis With Tapenade - Arrange the toasted bread slices (crostinis) with the topping mix (tapenade). The tapenade can be either spooned on top of the slices or served on the side for guests to top their crostinis as they like. Serve with vegan parmesan cheese (if desired) and lemon slices for guests to squeeze on top.