Focaccia Bread

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of flour
  • 2 cups of water
  • 1/8 cup milk powder
  • 2 tsp of instant dry yeast
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp of honey (or sugar will work)

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, add the 4 cups on flour, salt and milk powder and set aside. 
  2. In a measuring cup add 2 cups of warm water (yes had to be warm) and add the yeast and the honey.  Let the yeast active for about 15 minutes or until foamy. 
  3. Pour the liquid into the flour.  Mix with your hands gently and until the dough starts to form.  Kneed until it forms a round neat ball in the bowl. 
  4. Once the ball is formed, coat the dough with olive oil to avoid the dough forming a crust.  Cover the bowl and set aside for about 2 hours or to allow for the dough to at least double in size.
  5. Kneed the dough again to work out the bubbles in the dough. Cover and let the dough rise again for about 2 hours.
  6. After the second rise, you can place the dough in a 9x12 pan.  Cover the base with oil or parchment paper.  Stretch dough to the corners of the pan.  Cover and let rise again for about an hour until fluffy and bubble.
  7. Sprinkle salt or desired toppings (i.e. rosemary, garlic)
  8. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes.