Tasty Tuesday: Bread Machine Focaccia

You'll either love me or hate me for posting this recipe (AND linking it up to Tasty Tuesday over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam).

I'm having mixed emotions myself because it is so stinkin' good I want to eat the whole pan.

I found a basic starter recipe on All Recipes and then tweaked it a little based on some other reviews. This is what I came up with - as good as any restaurant focaccia I've ever had!

Oh bless you, dear bread machine.



Bread Machine Focaccia

Ingredients
1 cup warm water

2 tablespoons olive oil (plus 2 tablespoons for later)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

2 teaspoons dried rosemary (plus 1 teaspoon for later)

3 cups bread flour

1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Kosher salt, for sprinkling

Directions
Put water, 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, 2 tsp rosemary, bread flour and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. I did mine in the exact order listed, making a well in the flour for the yeast.

Select dough cycle; press start.

Remove dough from bread machine when cycle is complete. Pat dough into a 9x13 inch baking pan or 12 inch pizza pan. Use your fingers to dimple the dough every inch or so. Brush with remaining 2 Tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and remaining 1 tsp rosemary.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover foccacia with plastic wrap while oven preheats.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

This bread is delicious as is, but could also be dipped in a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We had it with spaghetti last night!

Enjoy and be blessed!

Today I'm linking up with...

Bread Machine Week: Italian Herb Bread

**For those of you wondering, we have an Oster 2 lb. EXPRESSBAKE Breadmaker that we got as a wedding present 6 1/2 years ago. Never tried anything else, but works pretty well!**

Here is the first recipe I made to kick off Bread Machine Week!

It was under the French bread category in my bread machine cookbook.

The bread came out very tasty - nice crust, soft inside and great flavor! I am saving it for our spaghetti dinner on Thursday! I think it would be excellent for sandwiches as well.

The only change I made to this recipe was omitting the Parmesan cheese since I am not a fan. Let me know if you make it with the cheese!

Italian Herb Bread

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 Tbsp vegetable or olive oil
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp dried onion flakes
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp active dry yeast

Directions
Measure and add liquid ingredients to the bread pan.

Measure and add dry ingredients (except yeast) to the bread pan.

Use your finger to form a well (hole) in the flour where you will pour the yeast. Yeast must NEVER come into contact with a liquid when you are adding ingredients. Measure the yeast and carefully pour into the well.

Snap the baking pan into the breadmaker and close the lid.

Select "French" setting, choose crust color and start!

My Favorite Banana Bread

Banana bread. Always making it, but never with the same recipe! I seem to be constantly in search of the perfect banana bread recipe because the boys love it so much.

And now I've found it. I'm done looking. This is the one.

I should have figured it would come from this cookbook.


Only the most wonderful cookbook on the face of the earth I do believe. If you know of one better, send it to me because I need to see it. (I'll always take a new cookbook!) But you need to get this one.

I could write a whole post on how much I love America's Test Kitchen but I'll spare you for now and move on to the recipe.

The keys to this recipe are...
-VERY ripe bananas
-plain yogurt
-very gently mixed batter

And don't forget to save those overripe bananas in the freezer so you have them on hand when you want to make banana bread! Just peel them and stick them in a freezer bag. Set them out to thaw before you start baking and you're ready to go!

Give it a try - I think you'll enjoy it as much as the boys and I do!

ATK Banana Bread

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 very ripe, soft, darkly speckled large bananas, mashed well (about 1 1/2 cups)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs, beaten lightly
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups walnuts, toasted and chopped coarse (optional)

Directions
Adjust oven rack to lower middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously coat a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan with vegetable oil spray.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, salt together in large bowl; set aside.

Whisk the mashed bananas, melted butter, eggs, yogurt and vanilla together in a separate bowl.

Gently fold banana mixture into dry ingredients with rubber spatula until just combined and batter looks thick and chunky. DO NOT OVER MIX!!! Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.

Bake until loaf is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Let cool for one hour.