Kids Can Bake Tomato Basil Focaccia Bread Recipes

KIDS CAN BAKE: FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110 degrees F) with the sugar in a large bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the top, and set aside until bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together both flours and the kosher salt in a medium bowl.
• Once the yeast is ready, add the oil to the bowl, then the flour mixture, and stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Transfer to a floured work surface and knead the dough until it is smooth, elastic and slightly tacky, about 5 minutes.
• Lightly oil the bowl that held the flour mixture, put the ball of dough in it, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Generously oil an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet. Punch the dough down, and transfer it to the baking sheet. Gently stretch and pat the dough to the edges of the baking sheet with your hands (it will recede slightly from the edges). (If the dough is resistant, let it rest for about 10 minutes, then try again.) Dimple the dough all over with your fingers. Loosely cover, and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. When the dough is ready, uncover, generously drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the baking sheet on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

KIDS CAN BAKE: SWEET GRAPE FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• Put 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110 degrees F) and 1 teaspoon of the sugar in a large bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the top, and set aside until bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together both flours and the salt in a medium bowl.
• Once the yeast is ready, add the oil to the bowl, then the flour mixture. Stir together the mixture with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Transfer it to a work surface dusted with all-purpose flour, and knead the dough until it is smooth, elastic and slightly tacky, about 5 minutes.
• Lightly oil the bowl that held the flour mixture, put the ball of dough in it, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Generously oil an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet. Punch the dough down, and transfer it to the baking sheet. Gently stretch and pat the dough to the edges of the baking sheet with your hands (it will recede slightly from the edges). (If the dough is resistant, let it rest for about 10 minutes, then try again.) Dimple the dough all over with your hands. Scatter the grapes over the top. Loosely cover, and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. When the dough is ready, uncover, generously drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar. Bake until the bread is golden brown and the grapes are soft and juicy, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHERRY TOMATO & BASIL FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. In a large bowl, combine canola oil, sugar, salt, yeast mixture and 2 cups flour; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes., Meanwhile, fill a large saucepan two-thirds with water; bring to a boil. Cut a shallow "X" on the bottom of each tomato. Using a slotted spoon, place tomatoes, a cup at a time, in boiling water for 30 seconds or just until skin at the "X" begins to loosen., Remove tomatoes and immediately drop into ice water. Pull off and discard skins. Place tomatoes in a small bowl; drizzle with oil., Preheat oven to 425°. Sprinkle 2 greased baking sheets with cornmeal; set aside. Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a 12x8-in. rectangle and place on prepared baking sheets., Using fingertips, press several dimples into dough. Pour tomato mixture over dough; sprinkle with basil, coarse salt and pepper. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes., Bake until golden brown, 15-18 minutes.

BASIL-PARMESAN FOCACCIA WITH FRESH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place the chopped onion in a bowl and pour boiling water over it. After 15 seconds, drain and blot dry with paper towels. Set aside.
• Combine the yeast with the half-cup of water. Add one and a half cups of the flour and mix. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured board and knead it for about eight minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Pour one tablespoon of the olive oil in a bowl, add the dough, turning once to cover with the oil. Drape a lightly dampened towel over the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in bulk. This will take one and a half hours with rapid-rise yeast, or three hours with regular yeast.
• Punch down the dough, add the onion, a quarter-cup of water, three tablespoons of olive oil, the cup of Parmesan cheese, the remaining flour, the basil and two teaspoons salt, and mix. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead it for eight minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic, adding small amounts of additional flour if needed.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Roll the dough into a large circle measuring about 15 inches in diameter and about a quarter-inch thick, and transfer it to a heavy cookie sheet. Using your fingertips, make several indentations in the dough, so the surface is irregular. Brush with two tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle on two teaspoons of coarse salt. Bake in the top half of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the focaccia is golden brown and crisp. (You may prepare the recipe ahead to this point, but leave the baked focaccia at room temperature.)
• To prepare the topping, combine the olive oil, garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Lay the sliced tomatoes in an overlapping pattern on the focaccia and spoon the olive-oil mixture over them. Return the focaccia to the oven for two minutes. Sprinkle with three tablespoons of Parmesan and return the focaccia to the oven just until the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about one to two minutes. Remove from the oven and cut into large slices. Serve.

BASIL FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Whisk together 3 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add warm water and mix well. If dough is too sticky, mix in another 1/2 cup flour.
• Oil a bowl. Fill another, larger bowl halfway with hot water.
• Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Form into a ball and place in the oiled bowl, turning to coat all sides with oil. Place the oiled bowl in the bowl of hot water. Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oil a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface and let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer dough to the prepared baking pan. Press and dimple with your fingers to even out the thickness and work it into the corners to fit. Brush lightly with olive oil, then sprinkle with garlic salt, Parmesan cheese, and finally basil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until deep golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cut into 8 squares.