Muffuletta

Ingredients

• 1 pound plum tomatoes (as uniform in size as possible), halved lengthwise, cored, seeded, and skin pricked 6 to 8 times with tip of a sharp knife (see illustrations below)
• 1 cup pitted green olives (brine cured), chopped coarse
• 1 cup pitted black olives (brine cured), chopped coarse
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1 medium red bell pepper , roasted, peeled, seeded, and diced fine
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice from 1 small lemon
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 loaf Italian bread or French bread, large, (about 9-inch diameter), halved crosswise, most of the inner crumb removed
• 2 cups leaf lettuce , any type or combination, torn into bite size pieces, if necessary
• 1/4 pound mortadella , thin-sliced (or other soft salami)
• 1/4 pound provolone cheese or fresh mozzarella, thin-sliced
• 1/4 pound soppressata , thin-sliced (or other hard salami)