Focaccia Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons (about 1 package) active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons  salt
• 1/2 cup olive oil

Combine water, yeast and sugar in small bowl and let it rest somewhere warm until the yeast begins to bubble (about 15 minutes). In stand mixer add the flour, salt, olive oil and yeast mixture and mix on low speed with a dough hood for about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is soft (about 5 minutes) and transfer to a greased bowl to rest. Cover with a kitchen towel and the let the dough rest until it has doubled in size(about 1 hour).  Press dough into a well oiled 9″ x 13″ pan and let rest for another 40 minutes to an hour. Press your fingers into the dough – leaving lots of small divots. Sprinkle generously with olive oil, toppings (such as halved cherry tomatoes), chopped rosemary and salt and bake at 350 degrees until it is golden brown. Another of our favorite toppings are caramelized onions and rosemary.

Recipe adapted from the Focaccia recipe by Anne Burrell on FoodNetwork.com.