Breads and cheeses

[SomethingClever]

My wife and I make focaccia and french bread all the time using the following easy recipe:

3 cups flour
2 teaspoons yeast
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1.5 cups warm water

Combine ingredients, stir in water.

Knead lightly on floured surface and add flour as necessary until dough is no longer sticky to touch (2 mins).

Place dough in mixing bowl covered with saran wrap to rise, 2-3 hours. It's best if you put the bowl in a reasonably warm place.

For focaccia:

Remove dough, knead lightly for another minute or so, spread out flat (like a pizza) on a baking sheet with plenty of olive oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and rosemary... then add dimples with your fingertips.

For french bread:

Remove dough, knead lightly (1 minute). Roll into two long strips and place on special bread pan (pictured)



Separate an egg white and beat until frothy. Brush frothy egg white on dough and make three shallow diagonal cuts in the surface of the bread.

For both breads: Bake at 450 degrees until golden in color. Usually 10 mins or so.

If the bread appears to be getting done on the bottom but not browned on the top, sometimes I switch the oven from bake to broil for a few minutes.

This is what it looks like when you're done (these were baked by my father in law using the same recipe)



Enjoy!