The Recipe Trove

1/4 cup lukewarm water (110 degrees)

2 1/4 teaspoon yeast (1 packet)

1 teaspoon sugar

4 cups bread flour 

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups lukewarm water

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Combine 1/4 cup water, yeast, and sugar in a small bowl. Stir to combine, and set aside for 5 minutes.

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.  Mix with a whisk to evenly incorporate the salt. Add the yeast mixture, remaining water,and olive oil.  Stir with a wooden spoon as long as you can, and then use your hands to bring the dough together.  Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until it is smooth.  This should take between 3-5 minutes.  Place in a bowl that has been oiled, cover, and let rise for 1 hour.

Punch the dough down, knead it briefly, and cover again.  Let rise for 30 minutes.

Turn the dough out of the bowl onto your work surface.  If you are making pizza, this is the time to stretch the dough to fit your pan, add your toppings, and bake at 500ºF for 10-15 minutes.

If you are making focaccia, gently stretch your dough to fit in your pan- I use a half-sheet pan.  Use your fingers to press into the dough and put little dimples in the whole thing.  Brush the dough lightly with olive oil, and sprinkle with any toppings you’d like.  You can use fresh herbs, dried herbs, coarsely chopped olives or garlic, Parmesan cheese, sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, etc.  The only must is that you must sprinkle it with salt and pepper at the very least.

Cover your focaccia dough and let it rise again for 1 hour.  When there are about 15 minutes left, preheat your oven to 500º so it is good and hot when the focaccia is ready.

Bake the focaccia for about 15 minutes.  Keep an eye on it.  You want to bake it until it is golden brown.  If it is browning unevenly, rotate your pan or move it to a different shelf.  Cooking at 500ºF will make the inside of the dough nice and fluffy while the outside gets crispy.

If desired, after you pull the focaccia out of the oven, you can brush it again with olive oil or melted butter.