Focaccia Bread

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups warm water

• 2 tsp Sugar

• 2 teaspoons of active dry yeast package active dry yeast (1 packet)

• 3 1/2 cups flour

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (plus more for greasing the bowl and drizzling on top)

• 2 teaspoons sea salt

Instructions

• Proof the yeast

  • add warm water and sugar to your bowl and stir to combine

  • sprinkle the yeast on top of the water and stir to combine

  • let sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast is foamy

• Making the dough

  • set the mixer to low speed and gradually add flour, oil, and sea salt

  • once everything is combined increase the speed to medium-low and continue to mix for 5 minutes

• First dough rise

  • take the dough out of the mixing bowl and shape it into a ball

  • grease the mixing bowl with olive oil then put the dough back in the bowl

  • cover the bowl with a damp towel and set it in a warm location for 45 minutes to an hour or until it has doubled in size

• Second dough rise

  • turn the dough onto a floured surface then roll it out into a rectangle until the dough is about 1/2 an inch thick

  • cover the dough again with a damp towel and let it rise for another 20 minutes

• Prep the dough

  • preheat the oven to 400F

  • set the dough on a 9x13 baking tray and poke holes all the way through the dough ( I use a knife but you can use anything as long as you hit the tray)

  • drizzle olive oil evenly over the top of the dough and sprinkle sea salt on top (here I measure with my heart)

• Bake

  • Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown

  • I usually add a little more olive oil and salt to the final product but that is entirely up to your tastes