Mix 2 cups flour with the dissolved yeast. Knead the dough for 10 minutes, either by hand or in the bowl of an electric mixture with a dough hook. Shape the dough into a ball, and put in an oiled bowl to rise until doubled in bulk, about 3 hours.

Punch down, put the dough on a floured board, and knead again, incorporating the remaining flour, one third cup olive oil, water, and salt. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic. Let rise again in a covered bowl for another 3 hours.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Divide the dough in half and roll out on a well-floured board to circles or squares 1 cm thick. Brush with the remaining olive oil and press the topping of your choice into the top of each circle. Bake on a baking sheet until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into wedges, squares, or triangles.

NOTE: Slashes may be made in a decorative or random pattern in the breads before baking.

TOPPINGS: Thinly sliced rounds of yellow onion Paper-thin crosswise slices of tomatoes and chunks of sun-dried tomatoes Oregano leaves and slivers of garlic Coarse salt and olive oil Rosemary sprigs, coarse salt, and olive oil Black olive halves and coarse salt * Sage leaves, coarse salt, and olive oil ----