Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics Food, Drink and Cooking Focaccia

I do not want appliances for Christmas. Just like I wouldn't buy hedge clippers for Mr. Scoutgal.

That's exactly how I got mine - for Christmas!

Why would you when you have two sons to keep up the yard - get them the hedge clippers, silly!

I am not you, and that kind of gift doesn't float my boat. To keep the household "harmonious", Mr. Scoutgal comes up with better, more imaginative gifts.


My older son has just moved into his own place, and my younger son is too busy with work, school and picking me up from dialysis. That's whay we have a gardener, silly!

Well I don't have one of those either and aint gonna.
No room. Sides we're probably going to have to move soon.

That said, Rick, I think I read your recipe as one I found at google.

I'm not going to get into a "gizmo" conversation.
I made bread by hand a long time ago that turned fabulous. I'm trying to get back into it just a little bit.
Not full blown enough to go all high tech (can you just see that with me anyway? sheesh).

Every week I've been buying a load of bread from farmers market for $4.50. Although I completely support the local farmers and bakers and other suppliers, I think I would like to try my hand again at making my own.
I can't give Mr O too much. He'd eat too much.

Clearly, you're not a serious cook...

For those of us that are - that type of gift is very appreciated!

Most serious cooks I know like to buy their own equipment. I am serious about the food I cook, and the kind of things I consider good gifts...

Helllooooooo, didn't you see that I picked a degree that doesn't pay well?

I have a stand mixer, 2 bread machines, and 3 ovens.
I bake all my own bread.
Bread flour is made from hard wheat and is higher in gluten(protein) than "all purpose" flour which is made from a blend of hard and soft wheats. Cake flour is made from soft wheat and is very low in gluten. Bread is stretchy and chewy, Cake is not. That's the difference.

I buy 25 pounds of bread flour and 2 pounds of yeast from Sam's every few months. It's a fraction the cost of yeast and bread flour at the grocery store. All purpose flour makes crappy bread. I've been baking bread for several years now, it's easy, it's fun and bread is practically free.
This weeks loaf was Whole Wheat Onion Basil bread. I stretched the dough out into a long loaf and twisted it. Brushed it with beaten egg and put sesame seeds on top.
Beautiful and delicious.

I haven't done Focaccia though.

Now I've done Focaccia.
Lots of crispy crunchy cheesy crust, soft chewy oniony and herby inside.
And it's the same damned recipe I make all bread with:
1 cup warm water
3TBS olive oil
3TBS sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups bread flour
1 TBS yeast

tonight I added
6 garlic cloves roughly chopped
1 TBS olive oil
2 TBS dried Basil
1 TBS Italian herbs
1/3 cup dehydrated chopped onion
1 TBS powdered buttermilk
2TBS Water

After the second rise I punched it down, brushed the top with olive oil, sprinkled it with grated Romano cheese, brushed a little more olive oil on and baked it.

When are you opening:

Gregor's Italian Cafe in Land O' Swamps, FL?