Rachel and Sarah are back in the kitchen making homemade bread that looks as good as it tastes!
Rachel, a certified bakery scientist, shares her tips for making the perfect loaf of bread at home. These loaves get a special decoration with fresh veggies and herbs!
Focaccia is an Italian bread that is often served as an appetizer or a snack. It is a great bread to make at home because it is easy to shape. When selecting toppings, it can be helpful to think about what veggies you’d like on a pizza.
Some topping ideas include:
- Olives
- Fresh Rosemary
- Red Onions
- Green Onions
- Spinach
- Basil
- Oregano
- Tomatoes
- Garlic
- Bell Peppers
- Capers
- Chives
- Roasted Red Pepper
What you need:
- 1 c warm water
- 2 1/4 t active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1/2 t honey
- 2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
- 1/3 c extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 t salt
What to do:
- In a small bowl, mix yeast, warm water, and honey. Set aside for 5-10 minutes. Add flour and mix until incorporated. Knead the dough on a clean counter top 10-15 times, adding half of the olive oil and salt halfway through the kneading process. Let rise for 1 hour.
- Shape the dough into a rectangle directly on a greased baking sheet. Using your fingers, add dimples to the top of the bread. Brush with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with additional salt, if preferred.
- Decorate the top of the loaf with your favorite toppings – wait to add delicate toppings (basil, spinach, parsley, etc.) later into the baking process. Once your topping are set, let the dough rise for another 20 minutes.
- Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes, rotate the pan and add on the delicate toppings and return to oven for an additional 7-10 minutes.
- Enjoy within 2-days of baking, or store in the freezer.
