Pages

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

You say Foccacia, I say... Yummy!

Bil took me on a lunch date today :)  Lucky me!  We didn't go anywhere fancy, just to the Princess Cafe (at the Princess Theater in uptown Waterloo, if you are a local...if you aren't--too bad for you!).  This was my first visit there, and I have to say --WOW--what a GREAT way to enjoy lunch!

Over the last couple of years, we have ceased to go out to eat much for a couple of reasons:
1.  lack of funds,
2.  I really dislike paying for food I can make better/the same at home- Definitely my biggest pet peeve!
3.  It is hard to find good quality, healthy choices at a restaurant for a good price (meaning...I am a cheepo- and I don't want to pay $50 for a lunch date out...$20 is more my style).  Generally speaking, the choices are limited to fast food, greasy spoon diners and pub grub--not my idea of a nice meal out...see my dilemma?

This was such a great experience--good quality, very fresh food, great price, and VERY delicious! Delightful!! Thank-you Princess Cafe for a wonderful lunch date!  We will most definitely go back soon.

So here we are with recipe #3 with our pizza dough.  This one is great as an appetizer, or side dish for pasta--and it makes the MOST delicious sandwich bread the day after...

Focaccia (fo-caach-a) Rustic Italian Herb Bread
1 batch bread machine pizza dough
3tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup parmesan
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp parsley
*you can alter the amount of any of these herbs, depending on which you like better--there is no right or wrong amount...

In a bowl, combine the oil, garlic and herbs.
Oil a cookie sheet  (10x25 inch approx) lightly and gently stretch dough out to almost fit the pan (you want the dough to be about 1 inch thick).  Cover and let rise in a warm oven 30-40 minutes until doubled in height. (Tip: to warm oven slightly, turn oven on "warm setting" for 2 min., then turn off and place covered dough in oven to rise.--make sure you remove the pan before you preheat the oven for baking!)
With 2  fingers, poke holes all over the dough.  Drizzle oil/herb mixture over top of dough.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Bake 25 minutes.  Remove from oven and cut into squares.
Enjoy!

3 comments:

  1. Are you going to make this the next time we come down to visit? I love when you make dinner - always exciting and a treat. Love Mom

    ReplyDelete
  2. what do you cover with???
    ~Neese~

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey Neese,
    Cover with a damp tea towel, or a silicone wondermat if it will fit all the way over it :)

    ReplyDelete