Monday, February 8, 2010

Focaccia Bread - Blue Monday



Focaccia for the body and grape hyacinths for the soul.



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...The fog's still thick and I'm craving soup. Not the thick and heavy variety. I want a soup with vibrant color to chase the chill and gray of winter's end away. Remember the tomato soup of childhood? That's what I want. Ours was always served with grilled cheese sandwiches and a tall glass of milk. My soup no longer comes from a can and I haven't had grilled cheese in years. Somewhere along the line, cheese covered breads replaced the sandwiches of my childhood lunches. One of my favorites is focaccia. It's really easy to make and is the perfect accompaniment to a lovely tomato or minestrone soup. I'm fairly specific in the ingredients I choose for mine. If my choices don't spark your fancy, substitute any toppings you'd like for yours. Here's the recipe I use.

Focaccia...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
2-1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil, divided use
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup sliced oil-packed roasted peppers or 8 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded provolone cheese
1/4 cup (1 ounce) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1) Dissolve yeast in warm water; let stand 5 minutes. Combine flour and salt in work bowl of food processor. Stir in yeast mixture and 3 tablespoons oil. Process until ingredients form a ball. Process 1 minute more. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Knead about 2 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place dough in oiled bowl; turn once to oil dough surface. Cover with clean kitchen towel. Let rise in warm place about 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk.
2) Punch dough down. Let rest 5 minutes. Press dough into oiled 10-inch cake pan, deep-dish pizza pan or springform pan. Brush with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Press peppers or sun-dried tomatoes over dough dough,staying about 1 inch from edge. Sprinkle with cheeses. Cover and let rise in warm place 15 minutes.
3. While dough completes final rise, preheat oven to425 degrees F. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Cook's Note: If mixing dough by hand, combine flour and salt in large bowl. Stir in yeast mixture and 3 tablespoons oil until ball forms. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Proceed as directed.

You might also enjoy:

Whole Wheat Olive Focaccia Bread

Apple-Onion Bread with Cheddar Cheese
Muenster Cheese Bread

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

This recipe is linked to:
Wild Yeast - Yeast Spotting

35 comments :

black eyed susans kitchen said...

I always thought that foccacia bread would be an ambitious undertaking. Yours looks delicious! The grape hyacinth is one of my favorite signs that Spring is on its way.
Susan

Allie and Pattie said...

Oh, I LOVE foccacia and make it frequently! I will definitely try your recipe-you make everything look so wonderful. Your blog is one of the first I check every day!
xoxo Pattie

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

love this... and dipped in the soup .. or those fancy dipping oils I seem to collect... yum, great post

The Blonde Duck said...

Now I want a grilled cheese and foccacia!

Kim, USA said...

Haven't eaten Foccacia bread, wish I could someday ^_^


BlueMOnday-Chairs&Flowers

D said...

Mary, that looks absolutely delicious and I have both sun dried tomatoes and red roasted peppers. Hm, which one shall it be? first? ;)

We have been fogged in for one day too many at this point. I am looking for just a little sunshine.

EJ said...

hyacinth is gorgeous.

Snow so Deep

Juliana said...

Foccacia with bell pepper and sun dried tomatoes...looks so tasty...and the hyacinth picture is awesome!

Coleens Recipes said...

That is a beautiful focaccia!! Just gorgeous.

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

Delicious foccacia ....

George Gaston said...

Mary, what a fantastic looking focaccia bread. I bet the aroma in your kitchen was amazing while it was baking, too.

Many thanks...

Federica Simoni said...

wow splendida questa focaccia!

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

I like the idea of focaccia as "adult grilled cheese."

SmilingSally said...

Oh Mary, how I wish I had a bowl! Happy Blue Monday.

noble pig said...

I love the peppers in here Mary.

Lyndas recipe box said...

Bookmarked, this is lovely focaccia bread, Mary...I must try it!

pigpigscorner said...

The bread looks really rich and delicious!

Bob said...

That looks wicked good, I love foccacia. Course I love grilled cheese too. Heh.

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

Love your pictures today for Blue Monday.

skr said...

Wow that focaccia looks SO good! ;]

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Mary

Your focaccia looks nice and thick..."good to the tooth" as we say. We have a long wait to see grape hyacinths growing in the garden..expecting a foot of snow on Wednesday!

Foodiewife said...

First... loved the grape hyacinths. So pretty, and I wish I could see them up close and person (too warm where I live). Focaccia is so easy to make! I need to remember that. I'm with you on banishing canned soups, too. Homemade soups are fun to make. It's great how you made the transition from grilled cheese to this lovely bread. Blessings, Debby

Velva said...

Your foccacia looks delicious. I would love to tear off chunks and dip it in a fruity olive oil sea salt and pepper. I love foccacia.

Debbiedoos said...

I love that bread! I could eat the whole thing that is the problem!!~ YUM! Happy Blue Monday!!~

Marice said...

wish I could have a taste of that foccacia :) and that grape hyacinth, havent heard and seen any of that.. looks interesting! how does it taste like compared to regular grapes?

u may view mine here

My Little Space said...

Foccacia bread! Looks wonderful... Well, I love any kinds of bread! hehe..

Claudia said...

What I love about focaccia bread - is you can decide at 3 p.m. to make it and it is ready. So easy, so versatile - I always have yeast and flour for those days when I have a craving. Yes, I'd use your ignredients! Deliciously cheesey in the best possible way.

Zurin said...

id like to reach out and grab the whole thing for myself! it looks so darn good!!!

Cherine said...

This foccacia looks perfect!!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Cherine, thank you for visiting One Perfect Bite. I hope you'll become a regular and join us often.

happily retired gal said...

Foccacia is a favorite of mine and your soups look sooooo tasty! It's just after 1pm here so it's no wonder I'm hungry ;-)
Hugs and blessings,
Small Reflections

Janine said...

Yum !! I am making this one!!

Karen said...

I'd choose this focaccia over a grilled cheese sandwich any day! I haven't made any in a while. Next timie I do, I'm going to use the peppers and sun-dried tomatoes.

Katy ~ said...

Your focaccia bread is gorgeous!

Hope you're feeling better.

bj said...

Any fresh baked bread HAS to be one of the "wow" factors of life. I COULD live by bread alone, I'm pretty sure.
This one sounds so delightful...Thanks.
O, and Mr. Sweet and I have tomato soup (canned) and grilled cheese sandwiches regularly...one of our favoite lunches, year 'round. :)

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