First add the water, yeast, sugar, salt, and olive oil In the bowl of your standing mixer. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes.
Add 1 cup of flour to the bowl, and mix with the dough hook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add an additional cup of flour and mix until well-combined. Continue adding the flour, 1/4 cup at a time, until a soft dough is formed. The dough should stick to the bottom of of the bowl, but pull away from the sides. Let the dough mix for around 8 minutes total.
Next, take out the dough, place it onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth. The dough should be very soft. Shape the dough into a ball and return it to the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for a half-hour.
After the dough has risen, divide it into 4 pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a long skinny loaf that is about 9 to 10 inches long.
Place the rolled loaves onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Allow at least 2 inches between each loaf on the pan. Cover the loaves with a greased piece of plastic wrap and allow the loaves to rise until they double in size, about an hour.
Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. When the loaves are ready, bake them in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
When the loaves come out of the oven, rub the tops with a stick of butter and cover them with a dish towel to cool. Let the loaves cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting down the middle and topping with your favorite sandwich fixings.
