Wednesday, June 17, 2009

My favorite bread

Well, one of my favorites (I'm a bread lover!) . . . it's wonderful on it's own, or cut into squares then sliced through the middle for sandwiches - either a great vegetarian one with sprouts, tomatoes, avacado (for those of you who like it), cucumber, lettuce, etc. or with a little deli meat and cheese added to all that good stuff, too. Either way I make the sandwich, I top it off with Newman's Own Light Balsamic Vinegar Dressing - my very favorite dressing.
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Rosemary Focaccia Bread
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2 c water
1 Tbsp yeast
1 Tbsp sugar
1/3 c freshly chopped rosemary
3 minced garlic cloves
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp freshly cracked pepper
5 cups flour
2 tsp salt
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For the top:
extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt
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1 - In a large mixing bowl combine water, yeast, sugar, freshly chopped rosemary, garlic, olive oil, pepper, and 3 cups of flour. Mix together and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
2 - Add the salt and enough of the remaining flour to pull the mixture together into a soft dough. Knead for 5 minutes.
3 - Spray a large bowl with olive oil
4 - Shape dough into a round and place in the bowl tha thas been sprayed with olive oil.
5 - Spray the top of the bread with olive oil and cover with plastic wrap. Allow bread to double in size (About 1.5 hrs).
6 - Once bread has doubled in size, remove from bowl and place on a counter top. Allow dough to rest for 10 minutes.
7 - Spread dough into a well-oiled cookie sheet - dimpling it with your fingers
8 - Brush the top with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt
9 - Allow bread dough to double in size again.
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Bake @ 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
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**This recipe actually came as a hearth bread recipe, if that's your preference, use steps 1-6 and follow these:
7 - Divide dough into 2 equal portions
8 - Shape each portion of dough into rounds and place on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.
9 - Brush the tops with olive oil and sprinkle each top with kosher salt.
10 - Allow bread dough to double in size.
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Bake @ 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
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I could REALLY use a rosemary plant of my own.

3 comments:

K said...

I'm so impressed that you make homemade bread!! I had homemade bread for the first time on my mission and it was DELISH!

That Balsamic Vingarette is good too.

Hope you and the fam are well!

Kristin Chesnik said...

OOOOOOOooooo--that looks amazing! Can't wait to try it!

Jennifer said...

I am soooo excited to make this and use my rosemary! Thank you!!