Monday, August 1, 2011

Back of the (Giant) Bag: Rosemary Focaccia



I buy my bread flour at Costco in 25-lb. bags. I make pretty much all of our bread. Pretty lucky family, right, to come home to the smell of fresh bread and eat a piece hot off the loaf? Nope. The real treat is when I'm too busy to make hamburger buns or sandwich bread and they get to eat "store bought" bread. Grass is always greener, I guess...


So I was dumping my bag of flour into the giant storage bin I use to keep it, and noticed a recipe on the back for rosemary focaccia. We have rosemary growing as a ground cover and I certainly have enough flour--what the heck, I'll give it a try.


Rosemary Focaccia
3 cups bread flour
2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. or 1 package instant active yeast
1 1/3 c. warm water
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. dried rosemary leaves
Combine flour, salt, sugar, yeast, water, and 2 Tbsp. oil. Mix until dough is pliable. Knead on floured board until smooth. Place dough in oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled, 45 minutes. Coat baking pan with oil and gently press the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Brush remaining oil over the top.


Make dimples in the dough (clearly, this is the best part).


Sprinkle with Parmesan and rosemary. Let rise 20 minutes. Bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees.

Janet's Notes: I made the dough in the bread machine, decreasing the water to 1 cup. I added fresh (not dried) rosemary straight into the dough, not sprinkled on top. I also used 1 Tbsp. loose yeast instead of one individual package because, you guessed it, I buy my yeast from Costco as well.

You have to take a photo with olive oil next to it; I think it's some kind of Italian bread photography rule.



10 comments:

  1. The bread looks really YUMMY! I have never baked bread in my life (other than banana and zucchini!) and really want to try. Something about yeast though is so intimidating! lol Sea Marie

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  2. Awesome project! This must have been the weekend for baking, because my blog post is about a cherry pie I made!

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  3. I love rosemary foccacia. I usually buy one at Trader Joe's when I make it there. I'm going to have to try this one!

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  4. You spoil your family, some day when your kids are grown they'll say to their children; "Ah yes, we used to have fresh homemade bread back when I was a kid. Sure miss the heavenly aroma and the divine flavor of those hot out of the oven loaves."
    Some day they will ... just not today. :)

    The rosemary foccacia sounds incredibly yummy and the two go together like salt and pepper or oil and vinegar.

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  5. That's pretty funny... I have a friend who is an amazing cake baker, but her husband finally told her one day that he prefers box cake mix. DAGGER to the heart! You can send that homemade bread my way, I would be MOST appreciative!

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  6. Yummy! Your recipe made my tummy growl.

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  7. Oh yes, the grass is always greener on the other side. But I am positive that your efforts will pay off some day. I've gone through pretty much the same but the time came for real and honest enjoyment of homemade!

    I envy you for the fresh rosemary and mmm, I am sure the focaccia was awesome.

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  8. I'm just now starting to learn to make bread and a friend suggested I keep a starter. I think she's had her's for years. Kinda like part of of the family. Rosemary focaccia sounds heavenly!

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  9. .. and the olive oil has to be in a pig dish... :)

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  10. I have got to try this bread! Rosemary is so fragrant. I'll bet it's delicious!

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