Focaccia Bread

Focaccia bread is one of the most easiest breads there is to make and the easiest to recipes to change so that you have a different kind of bread every time.  Here's how I make mine, and there's NO kneading involved.

3 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
3 Tabs olive oil
1 Tabs instant yeast
1 1/4 teas salt
8 ounces grated sharp Cheddar cheese (about 2 cups)
4 - 8 cloves garlic (depending on your taste)
2 Tabs grated Parmesan cheese
1-3 Tabs mixed dried herbs of your choice

Peel and chop your garlic

In a large bowl combine flour, water, olive oil, yeast, and salt.  Mix on high with a mixer for about a minute.

The dough will be very moist and sticky.

Next add in your garlic and cheese.  I also add in any ingredients that I want to flavor my bread.  Today I happen to have lemon basil and asparagus.  You can use whatever you like, (some good combinations are:  roasted garlic, sun dried tomato & red pepper or green onions and bacon or rosemary, dried tomato, and basil - whatever you would like, even just plain cheddar cheese is fine).  My bread filling is never the same twice, because it all depends on what I have on hand when I make the bread.

Now mix the dough on low speed just to combine the ingredients.  You can even use a wooden spoon.

Now use 2 Tabs olive oil to grease a 9 X 13 pan and pour the dough into the pan.  That's it!!  Cover the dough and let it set for about 1 hour.  After about 45 minutes, turn on your oven to 375 degrees and sprinkle the top of the dough with your Parmesan cheese and dried herbs.  Today I am using Italian seasoning and oregano, (again, you can choose whatever seasonings you like to go with the dough).  Cover the dough again for another 15 minutes, (that's a total of 1 hour).  Then bake in the oven for about 30 - 40 minutes until golden brown.

This smells heavenly!!  Remove it from the oven and let it set on a wire rack for about 10 minutes to rest.

Then you can remove the bread from the pan and enjoy it warm or at room temperature.  This bread is great just like this, with some marinara sauce, or with some olive oil to dip it in.  Everyone loves it.

Look at all the cheesy goodness and the flaky layers.  Yummy, Yummy, Yummy.  It's even good cold the next day.

So - what did you make your bread with?