what's for dinner tonight {homemade focaccia bread}.

making bread is quickly becoming one of my favorite things.

for a while, i've been wanting to try making focaccia bread.  i absolutely love it.  yesterday i was browsing online when i came across this recipe.  i had most of the ingredients in my cupboard, and i was looking for a good bread to accompany the salads i was making for dinner.  i made a few substitutions, and it was super delish.  my girls would not stop eating it.  it was no problem at all for my family to polish off this entire batch very quickly.

this made for one yummy dinner.  cobb salad + focaccia?  two of my fav things in the whole world.  i was a happy girl.

here's the recipe, adapted from here.  it directs you to use a bread maker for the first five minutes, but i think a kitchenaid mixer with a dough hook would work great, too... or as always, you can use your good ole hands :)

homemade focaccia bread

* 1/2 c. warm water

* 1/2 c. milk

* 3 T. butter, softened

* 3 T. sugar

* 1 1/2 t. salt

* 1 1/2 c. whole wheat white flour

* 1 1/2 c. white flour (or bread flour)

* 2 1/4 t. (or one packet) active dry yeast

topping:

*  2 T. olive oil

* sprinkle: garlic powder, dried rosemary, grated parmesan cheese, course sea salt

- place bread ingredients in bread maker, and mix/knead for 5 minutes until a good dough consistency (may need to add a bit more water or flour).  

- once dough has formed, place on floured surface and cover with plastic wrap.  allow to sit for 15 minutes.

- after dough has rested, knead by hand for one minute.  roll out to 1/2-1/4 inch in thickness and placed on a greased cookie sheet.  

- cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

- using your fingers, press dimples in dough about an inch apart from one another.  

- brush dough with olive oil and sprinkle with toppings.  bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

- allow bread to cool slightly before cutting into squares.  serve warm.

this is the perfect bread for summer to serve with salads or whatever is off your grill.  so, so, so delish.  seriously.  you're welcome.

this post was linked to these *lovely* blogs:

rain on a tin roof