Tomato and Rosemary Focaccia Bread

Cooking for Kids

Focaccia bread is an Italian flat bread similar to taste, style, and texture to pizza dough. Allow your Nanny Kids to gather and mix the ingredients, punch down the dough, and add toppings to the bread. Feel free to play with different herbs as toppings to accompany your dinner. My Nanny Kids love dipping focaccia bread sticks in balsamic vinegar and differently flavored olive oils as an appetizer to any meal.

You Will Need:

2-1/2 tsp Yeast
1-1/4 Cup Warm Water
1 tsp Sugar
1 Large Pinch of Salt
3-3/4 Cup Flour
1 Cup (divided) Olive Oil
2 Tbs Fresh Rosemary, chopped
1 Tbs Course Grind Sea Salt
3 Small Tomatoes, sliced thin

What to Do:

1. In bowl of a stand mixer, with the dough hook attachment, mix yeast water and sugar on low for 3 minutes.

2. Add 1/2 cup of olive oil, 3-1/4 cups flour, and a pinch of salt. Use the stand mixer on low for about five minutes to mix and knead the dough until it forms a smooth dough ball. If after 5 minutes, the dough is too sticky, it should be a little tacky, but not sticky), add more flour until you get the consistency needed.

3. Remove from the stand mixer and place in a bowl that has been greased with a bit of Olive Oil.

4. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set in a warm spot of the kitchen for 2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size.

5. Preheat oven to 425 F degrees.

6. Punch the dough down and move to a jelly roll pan that has been lined with a sheet of parchment paper.

7. This recipe makes 3 breads, divide dough into three equal pieces of dough. Flatten out the dough.

8. Sprinkle 1/4 cup flour around the top of the bread and start tapping like you are on a typewriter all around, leaving dimples.

9. Cover with a damp dishtowel for 1 hour for the final rise.

10. One more time, poke with your fingertips to dimple the bread.Pour 1/2 cup of olive oil. Sprinkle with the course sea salt and the herbs.

11. Add the tomato slices.

12. Bake for 5 minutes, then lower the temperature to 375 and bake for an additional 20 minutes, until golden brown and delicious.

13. Allow the bread to rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Serve warm.