Today….yes, I still have a last chapter to polish and a book due in TWO DAYS…..but I’m going to do something calming first. I’m going to head off to the garden center to stock up on fresh herbs in pots I can plant on the deck, and then I’m going to bake some foccacia bread. I’ll polish the end of my book while the focaccia is rising. Focaccia is a great dipping bread, so I’ll get out my cute Italian dipping bowls, mix up some herbs and olive oil, and make a big deal out of something simple tonight at dinner. I’ll come back later with a picture and the recipe.
Later–bread! You need: 3 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons yeast, 6 tablespoons olive oil, and 1 cup warm water for the bread. Mix, let rise one hour. Knead in two tablespoons fresh cut rosemary and 2-3 cloves chopped garlic. Let rise again; sprinkle with oil and salt. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes. Serve will herbed olive oil. Yum! Also picked up pots of rosemary, sage, chives, basil, oregano, and thyme at the garden center today. Must find time to replant in the big deck pot this week…..
Something Simple
May
29
29
Gina says:
Sounds yummy. Relax a bit. It’ll clear your head to finish the task you need to.
On May 29, 2005 at 7:42 am
Katie says:
Sounds wonderful. Looking forward to the recipe as well as what herbs you bought!
On May 29, 2005 at 8:20 am
Michelle says:
Sounds like a plan!! :bananadance:
On May 29, 2005 at 8:32 am
mary beth says:
yum
On May 29, 2005 at 9:06 am
kacey says:
oh, I can’t wait for the recipe! I love baking bread! That does sound simple. We’re having swiss cheese fondue for dinner…bet your bread would go great with it….
I’m into simple dinners this weekend. So simple that we had a late lunch yesterday and skipped dinner last night Okay, so the dh made sandwiches for dinner. HE can’t skip a meal :rolleyes:
On May 29, 2005 at 9:42 am
Mary Stella says:
I can never get the kneading/rising process right, so bread I make from scratch comes out too ‘tough’. I do, however, love buying a great Italian bread and dipping it in olive oil and herbs, usually accompanied by fresh mozarella. Yum!
On May 29, 2005 at 10:40 am
Jill says:
I’ll be over for dinner …
On May 29, 2005 at 10:41 am
Margery Scott says:
Sounds yummy. That’s what I went to the nursery for yesterday – fresh herbs as well as other plants. Couldn’t get near the place.
On May 29, 2005 at 10:46 am
Tori says:
Sounds delish! What time do we eat? :bananadance:
On May 29, 2005 at 10:52 am
Carol Burnside says:
Yum! That reminds me of the cookie dough just waiting to be baked.
Let’s see, there’s White Choc Mac Nut and Reeces chunks. Oh, heck – I’ll bake both.
On May 29, 2005 at 11:22 am
Robyn says:
That does sound yummy; your family is
lucky to have you bake bread(I bake buns).
Stay calm and it all will happen.:razz:
On May 29, 2005 at 11:32 am
Mary says:
Enjoy your day, your gardening, and your bread. Sounds delightful.
On May 29, 2005 at 11:38 am
Amy K. says:
Sounds like a relaxing day you deserve! Enjoy!
On May 29, 2005 at 11:50 am
Cheryl S. says:
Will check back later for the recipe – sounds great. Have a relaxing day.
On May 29, 2005 at 12:31 pm
Marty K says:
Sounds wonderful! And the herb pots are a great idea. I don’t have a yard, but I could do that…
On May 29, 2005 at 1:59 pm
Crystal* says:
Oh yes, please. The recipe would be wonderful. Mmmmmmmm.
Relax. :yes:
Grins*
On May 29, 2005 at 3:01 pm
gena showalter says:
I want to come over for dinner. I’m a horrible (horrible!) cook, and now I’m hungry 🙂
On May 29, 2005 at 5:22 pm
Rene says:
Thanks for the recipe, Suzanne. I love foccacia. I have a few recipes myself for the stuff, so I’m always happy to find another.
On May 29, 2005 at 6:56 pm
Rene says:
Oh yeah, I forgot to add: it’s really yummy if you blend a little balsamic vinegar with the olive oil and dip.
On May 29, 2005 at 6:58 pm
Suzanne says:
Rene! Yes! I forgot to say that! Balsamic vinegar is a must!
Why isn’t there a diet that is called The Bread Diet??? I would be soooo good on that one…..:hissyfit:
On May 29, 2005 at 7:03 pm
kacey says:
oh my gosh, I could SO live on THE BREAD DIET. You must make a diet called that, write a book about it, and you’ll be famous!! :guitar:
Thanks for the recipe!
On May 29, 2005 at 7:09 pm
Kelly says:
Ooh–looks great! And you know how people have green thumbs? I have a brown one. I could never have a garden. 😥
On May 29, 2005 at 8:27 pm
Cheyenne McCray says:
Yum! Can I have some? 🙂
On May 29, 2005 at 10:12 pm
Lis says:
Copied and pasted the recipe. Sounds yummy. Will have to try it out soon. :thumbsup:
Enjoy potting your herbs this week.
On May 29, 2005 at 11:35 pm
Rene says:
Suzanne, started to make the foccacia but it took forever to raise. I think my yeast is too old. I get in bulk at Costco and forget how long I’ve had it. Then we decided neither dh or I wanted to cook, so we ordered take out spaghetti. Anyway, I have it sitting in the fridge and will get it out tomorrow to knead in the rosemary and garlic and finish raising it.
On May 30, 2005 at 1:01 am
Suzanne says:
Rene, do you have any of the rapid rise yeast? That rapid rise yeast is the best!!!
On May 30, 2005 at 6:00 am
Rene says:
No, Suzanne, I haven’t. I pick up these big bags of yeast at Costco for $3 and they last for awhile. I used to bake more bread before urchin #3 arrived, I just don’t have the time anymore. But she is getting older, so I’m hoping to get back into it and to actually make a successful sourdough starter.
On May 30, 2005 at 10:12 am
Jaq says:
oh man, that bread looks good. Where’s your drooly smiley? gg:razz:
On May 30, 2005 at 6:16 pm