Flawless Focaccia Bread

This post is from my friend Marta's blog. If it's on her blog, you know it's good!


Focaccia Bread
2 hours, start to finish

2 cups warm water
1 pkg. active dry yeast (not instant)
1 Tbs. sugar
4 cups flour
2 tsp. salt
1-2 Tbs. Italian seasonings

Toppings.
1/2 cup butter, melted
garlic salt
Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions.
1. In small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water.

2. Blend together remaining 1 1/2 cup warm water, dissolved yeast, sugar, flour and salt in mixer bowl. Combine well. Mix in Italian seasonings. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise to double or more (about an hour).

3. Grease a 9x13 pan. Scoop dough into prepared pan, dough will be very sticky. You'll be tempted, but don't add any extra flour. Butter your clean hands and coax the dough into all the edges of the pan.

4. Let dough rise again for 20 minutes, meanwhile preheat oven to 400. Before baking, poke indents in the focaccia with your fingers. Drizzle melted butter over the top of the bread. Sprinkle some garlic salt over the top and add a couple handfuls of Parmesan cheese.

5. Bake 20 minutes. After cooling for ten minutes, turn focaccia out on cutting board and slice into thick breadsticks. Pile them into a bread basket and serve to hungry guests.

enjoy.

banana bread

Yummy! My favorite banana bread recipe

1 cup sugar
1/2 c shortening
2 eggs
2 tsp milk
1 tsp soda disolved in 1/4 cup water

2 cups flour
pinch of salt
3 bananas

mix

cook at 350 for 30-40 minutes

Makes one loaf or 4 mini loafs

French Bread

The Most Fabulous French Bread

I always get a little excited when I try a new bread recipe. I know, I'm a food geek, but it's true! I wandered my way over to a food blog called Jamie Cooks It Up! and was mesmerized by her so-called Fabulous French Bread. Hmmm...fabulous you say? I've been on the hunt for a wonderful recipe for French bread. To date, I've tried 5 different recipes and each was delicious, but...something was missing. French Bread recipes are simple by nature, but each seemed to be more work for no more added yumminess in the final product.

But I have to say, this recipe truly is fabulous. Try it. Read the instructions a few times before starting. There are several steps, but they're not difficult and just require a little focus, especially when you're making it for the first time. Start to finish it took me just under 2 hours to have these beautiful loaves. Amazing!

Jamie has several more pictures than I do. I blame it on trying to make grilled chicken crepes, double chocolate cookies and the French bread all at the same time. You can see the step-by-step pictures in her post here.

Note: Both Jamie and I used a mixer in the instructions below. You don't have to have one, but it's certainly a time saver!

Fabulous French Bread

Yield: 3 loaves

• 1 TBSP shortening
• 1 TBSP coarse salt {or 1/2 TBSP regular salt}
• 2 TBSP sugar
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup cold water
• 1/3 cup lukewarm water
• 1 TBSP yeast
• 5 - 6 cups white all purpose flour {I used bread flour}
• 2 rounded TBSP dough enhancer {my addition}
• 1 egg

Step 1: Place the 1 cup hot water in the microwave for 3 minutes to get it boiling.

Step 2: Dissolve the yeast into the warm water. Stir it around until it is all mixed.

Step 3: Combine the salt, shortening, and sugar in the bottom of your mixer with a fork. The dough hook doesn't work very well. You need to smash up the mixture until it resembles the picture above. {I used my whisk attachment on high. It took about a minute and was perfect.}

Step 4: Pour the boiling water over the shortening mixture. Mix slightly to combine.

Step 5: Pour the cold water in next.

Step 6: Then pour the warm water and yeast into the mixer.

Step 7: Begin to add the flour, one cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the side of your mixer. Add the dough enhancer at this time, along with the flour. The dough should be balmy but not sticky.

Step 8: Let the dough mix on high for 8 minutes.

Step 9: Let the dough rise in the mixer for about 20 minutes. {This step can actually be skipped if you are in a hurry, but I recommend it as it allows the dough the chance to rest and improves the flavor and texture.}

Step 10: Separate the dough into three parts and place on a large jelly roll pan sprayed with cooking spray. Let the dough sit for about 5 minutes. Letting it sit will make it MUCH easier to shape.

Step 11: Spread the dough out with your hands. Stretch it slightly until you have an oval about 1" in thickness. Roll the dough up into a log shape. Take the ends of the log and fold them into the middle, with the ends touching. Turn the loaf seam-side down onto a greased pan. I used my french bread pans, but you could also use a jelly roll pan. Repeat with remaining dough.

Step 12: Using a sharp knife, quickly cut 3 diagonal slits into the top of each loaf.

Step 13: Whisk egg until frothy. Cover loaves with egg wash, making sure to get in each slit.

Step 14: Place the loaves in a warm 170 degree oven and let rise for about 15 minutes.

Step 15: Turn the oven up to 400 degrees and re-set your timer for 15 minutes. {Leave the loaves in while the oven increases in temperature.}

Step 16: Turn the oven down to 350 degrees and turn the pan around in the oven. Bake for another 10-12 minutes, until the loaves are a nice golden brown.

Enjoy!

Also- Don't be intimidated by all the steps! I simply wanted to break the recipe down and make it easier to follow. Like I said, read it over a couple times, print it out and have it right by you in the kitchen. It really is easy!

SOURCE: http://www.utahdealdiva.com/

Cheese filled Parmesan Biscuits

3/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/3 cup walnuts
2 oz cream cheese
1/2 tsp finely chopped basil
1 garlic clove
1 roll Grand Biscuits
1/4 cup melted butter

Combine Parmesan cheese and walnuts, set aside. In other bowl combine cream cheese, garlic, and basil. Spoon 1 tsp cream cheese mixture into center of biscuit. Fold biscuit over and press closed. Dip into melted butter and roll into parmesan cheese mixture. Bake @350 for 20 min.

These are the rolls I made for our Christmas dinner.

Corn Bread

¾ cup butter
4 eggs
1 cup corn meal
1 can cream of corn
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda

Combine all ingredients and pour into a greased 9x13 pan or a cookie sheet.

Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

"Macaroni Grill" Bread

1 T. yeast
1 T. sugar
1 c. hot water

Let sit and rise about 15 minutes.

Slowly add:

1 1/2-2 1/2 c. flour
1 T. rosemary
1 t. salt

Let rise in bowl until double the size. Divide into 2 portions, place on greased baking sheet. Let rise again. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until top is golden brown. When out of oven, melt butter all over the top and sprinkle with salt.

Pizza Factory Breadsticks

Dough:
Rhodes rolls--2 per breadstick

Glaze:
2-3 Tbsp melted butter
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp dill weed

18" bamboo skewers (or some kind of big skewers)

Let dough rise. Then knead two rolls together and roll into a thin rope. Twist the rope around the skewer and hang on a cake pan (you can place them on a greased cookie sheet, but they'll have flat marks on the bottom when they're done baking). Repeat till all dough is used. Let twists rise till doubled. While they are baking, combine the glaze ingredients so the flavors will blend. Bake twists at 375 for about 12-15 minutes or till golden brown. Remove from oven and brush with the butter glaze. Try not to drool. :)

Notes:
-You could add some canned parmesan cheese to the glaze if you want.
-If you don't have skewers and are just twisting your dough ropes together, they will need to bake longer because they will be fatter.