Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Cheddar Cheese and Olive Focaccia



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This bread is a wonderful way to extend a simple meal and the cheddar cheese used to top it makes it especially good to serve with a creamy tomato soup like the one featured here a few days ago. It really is very easy to do. If you are uncomfortable working with yeast, purchase a commercially available pizza dough and top it with the ingredients used in this recipe. Chances are no one will be the wiser and I certainly will never tell. I think those of you who try this recipe will be really pleased with the results. A cook's reputation is often made by the way things are combined at the table. A soup by itself may not garner praise, but when served with a lovely salad and a homemade bread, such as this Americanized focaccia, chances are you'll receive rave reviews. Here's the recipe.

Cheddar Cheese and Olive Focaccia Bread...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
2-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2-1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 dash black pepper (ground)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup thinly sliced, sauteed red onion
1/4 cup thinly sliced, sauteed bell pepper
1/2 cup sliced black olives
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Colby cheese

Directions:
1) Mix yeast and water in a small bowl. Let sit until bubbles form, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
2) Meanwhile, combine flour, salt, sugar, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, basil, and black pepper in a large bowl.
3) Add yeast mix and vegetable oil to dry ingredients and combine. When dough has pulled together, turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.
4) Lightly oil a large bowl, place dough in bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with damp cloth and let rise in warm place 25 minutes.
5) Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
6) Punch dough down, place on greased baking sheet. Pat dough into 12 to 14-inch circle about 1/2 inch thick. Make indentations in dough about 1/2-inch apart, then prick dough with fork. Brush top with olive oil, then sprinkle with onions, bell pepper, olives, Parmesan and cheddar cheese. Bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm. Yield: One 12 to 14-inch focaccia bread.








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Rosemary Focaccia - Cookie Madness
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Herbed Fococcia Bread - Pantry Eats
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Whole Wheat Olive Flatbread - One Perfect Bite
Onion Parmesan Focaccia Bread with Tomatoes - One Perfect Bite

73 comments :

shabs said...

Hey there Mary , the focaccia looks really good , I am always on the look out for good pizza dough recipes and this looks really good and also Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving the lovely comment :D .

FLORY said...

I love the way you present your wonderful recipes and be sure i won't miss any of them!

Little Inbox said...

Thinking of the cheese alone already making me drool. :P

Banana Wonder said...

How did you know my favorite sort of focaccia is the one with the black olives and melted cheese? YUM! I must make this.

Pondside said...

You're so right about the details, or the extras making the meal something special. This looks soooo good!

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

my family would love this- minus the olives which neither of my mokeys will eat.
Hope all is well!

Faith said...

Yum! I have never seen cheddar used on focaccia and I think I would really like that flavour combination!

Khadija El Mary said...

We love too much Focaccia over here and adding cheese to it makes it sound so yummy.
Your wonderful photo makes me want to bake some right now! Have a nice day Mary!
Cheers,

The Harried Cook said...

I love focaccia! This combination sounds divine! I usually just do rosemary and garlic... Must try this soon! Lovely post as always, Mary!

Anonymous said...

Mary, what a fabulous looking focaccia - I love all the herbs you used and the cheese - YUM.
:-) Mandy

Priya Suresh said...

Omg, focaccia looks super marvellous and addictive..

My Little Space said...

Ooo...I am loving this. Lots of cheese on top. Yummm... If not mistaken Bob's birthday is coming soon, right? Have a lovely day.
Blessings, Kristy

Diane said...

That looks just so yummy. Take care Diane

Anonymous said...

I could trade a piece of pizza for this one, it looks so awesome!

Su m said...

I agree with you that the way you present your food combinations is a primal key to success.
This foccacia looks really amazing and I know my husband would go nuts for this :)
Big kiss

Ana Powell said...

I am going to follow your advise and purchase pizza dough and top it with the ingredients used in your recipe.
Lovely ♥

Katarina said...

Looks really good! Have a nice day!

Ana Rita Marreiros said...

Great recipe Mary!!1I never made focaccia but your is tempting...

Kisses,
Rita

Kurinji said...

OMG, awesome!
Kurinjikathambam

Lynn said...

The bread looks great Mary, love the spices in it! I'm also seeing the Sour Cherry Pie from one year ago... oh my:@)

Elin said...

Mary, that is one great focaccia...I made them without cheese. This is sure yummy. I have added this to my to do list :) My list is getting longer ;p

Have a nice day and the sun shines on you,
Elin

The Blonde Duck said...

It sounds delicious!

martu said...

wonderful! I love foccacia. This one you didi seems lovely. I will try soon to do it. Have a nice week. Marta

From the Kitchen said...

Even though I trust you not to tell, I think I'll make this one from scratch. My sisters are coming and I think I'll prepare some of our childhood favorites (grilled cheese and tomato soup being one) in a new way. Thanks for the updated memory.

Best,
Bonnie

Clint said...

Another creative tour-de-force from the Queen o' the Kitchen!

Tanna said...

Mary, this looks delicous, as always! blessings ~ tanna

Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook said...

Looks delicious, Mary! So many great flavors in that focaccia!

Kim said...

This flat bread is the perfect complement for a soup, I totally agree with you. I would also snack on it for sure!

Elaine said...

Mmmm...looks delicious. Have a great day, Mary.

Big Dude said...

We love focaccia and this version looks super good. While it may go well with the soup from a few days ago, I'm sure I'd really like it with a slice of the chocolate cake below.

StephenC said...

I would certainly need to use a prepared pizza dough. But I love everything about this. Mary, would you consider using an upright font in your posts? I find the leaning one difficult to read.

cocoa and coconut said...

This looks really flavoursome! My sister loves savoury recipes so I think this one is for her.

Thanks Mary

safire said...

This looks so elegant and perfect for company!

Lenia said...

It looks so perfect,full of flavour and aroma!Have a great day,dear Mary:)

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Yes, that foccaccia with soup or salad would really make the meal. I am always amazed by the diversity and frequency of your posts.

Anonymous said...

Sounds delicious, good idea about the pre bought dough, but I might be brave and make it from scratch, you make it sound so easy!
Have a great day
Mary

Unknown said...

I love focaccia bread...and topped with olives AND cheddar cheese... could there be any better way to make it?? Looks wonderful, Mary!

JCF said...

Well this focaccia looks like something I will try.

Suman Singh said...

This looks so delicious. I seriously want to have a slice of it :)

Anonymous said...

I like this recipe for foccacia because it doesn't use as much flour as other recipes I've seen. Great post!

Arlene Delloro said...

I love focaccia and this one is unusual. Looks delicious.

Joe Ambrosino said...

Lovely (American) focaccia Mary.

Young Adventures... said...

In the last six months I have tried to conquer my fear of yeast. So far so good. Brian and I keep talking about making homemade focaccia because we all love it. You have given me another recipe to try Mary, thanks for sharing! Enjoy your day!

Reshmi Mahesh said...

Looks delicious...and sure that it tasted wonderful...

Dulce Caldeira said...

Hi Mary, i love focaccia, this looks delicious, great post.
kisses.

pigpigscorner said...

This looks and sounds amazing! I've always wanted to make foccacia!

Faith said...

Beautiful focaccia, Mary! I love the olives for a bit of a salty tang. Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Anonymous said...

Cheddar cheese and olive focaccia!
Wow, fabulous!
Thank you so much, you're wonderful!
Hugs, Mandy

Unknown said...

Mary, this looks so good! I wish I could smell it right out of the oven.

I am adding this to my MUST make file! :)

lena said...

i'm sure this smells heavenly for all cheese lovers and i can really see that this focaccia is really cheeeeesy!

Joanne said...

Focaccia definitely never fails to help me enjoy a meal more! And with the cheese and olives...delicious!

Rita said...

Perfection! and I wold love to try and master this recipe.
Rita

Wendy Irene said...

When I have soup, bread to go with is a must for me. It completes the meal. Homemade bread is such a treat with a lovely healthy soup! Happy Wednesday :)

Unknown said...

wonderful, heat it up and let me dive in. I love it.

Tasha said...

This really does look like the perfect bread to serve aside a simple bowl of soup.

Gypsy Heart said...

Oh my, this looks delish! I am starving right now ~ :-)

Please stop by my blog...there's something there for you!

xo
Pat

Jessica | Cajunlicious said...

Mary, this looks so good! Colorful and you made me drool yet again!

Angie's Recipes said...

I am a fan of Focaccia and with cheese sounds even better! Thanks, Mary, for sharing another beautiful creation.

teresa said...

oh YUM! i could easily eat that whole loaf, i love the black olives!

Michele | Cooking At Home said...

This looks delicious, Mary. It sure would be good with that tomato soup.

Chef E said...

Oh how I wish I had some of this, well maybe the whole thing right now!

Lucy@The Sweet Touch said...

Mary, You read my mind with this! I just bought a blue cheese and walnut focaccia at the farmer's market and can't wait to sink my teeth into it - but now I have a recipe for when this runs out:D

Unknown said...

I keep thinking I need to make some focaccia. This one might just have convinced me.

Ben said...

There's nothing like a fresh focaccia, and this one looks just wonderful. (I never would have thought of using cheddar in the topping...great idea!) And the recipe is so good it might be too easy to miss a real gem of a statement: "A cook's reputation is often made by the way things are combined at the table." That goes on the list of great advice I've received over the years. Thank you, Mary!

Ben
http://kissthecook-ben.blogspot.com/

Cooking Creation said...

Mary, you have my heart with this post. Cheese and olives are my WEAKNESS! This looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

My goodness, that sounds amazing. Melted cheesey bread is always a good choice :)

Rosita Vargas said...

Realmente lucen estupendos,platos muy buenos,la focaccia está divina,las lentejas son mi debilidad,grandes recetas,cariños y bendiciones.

Juliana said...

Wow, what a beautiful focaccia and so flavorful...love it with cheddar cheese and olives. Hope you are having a wonderful week Mary :-)

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

Your cheesy Foaccia looks wonderful. My kids would love to eat those. I mean who won't. I love cheddar cheese and it must be so good out of the oven.... Very nice recipe Mary!

Food Glorious Food! said...

oohhhhhhhh cheesy connection! Super comfort food! Love it!

Sylvia F. said...

I love your focaccia, flavour combination are brilliant! Have a lovely weekend.

Swathi said...

This focaccia is killer, i love the combo of cheesy and olive one. Your presentation is awesome.

Claudia said...

Now that my kitchen is finally warm enough where the dough may actually rise - I will need to try this. Love cheese and olives in focaccia - but have never done it with cheddar.

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