DAY 60, FOCACCIA GARDEN

My lovely daughter-in-law Emilie sent me this idea - apparently it's trending on Instagram! Basic bread recipe (or sour dough), flattened into a tray, soused in olive oil and decorated imaginatively to look like a garden. Here's my first attempt.

Ingredients

2 cups bread flour

1 tsp each salt, sugar and yeast (or 1tbsp fresh)

1 cup warm water

4tbsp olive oil

pinch coarse seat salt

various herbs, pickles and veggies etc. to decorate

( I used parsley, cherry tomatoes, olives, capers, asparagus, anchovies, red pepper & mushroom)

Mix flour, yeast sugar, salt and yeast in a bowl. Add warm water and combine to make a rough dough. Knead until smooth.

Cover and allow to rise for an hour or until doubled in size. 

Oil a baking tin (25cmx30cm) and place the dough in the tin. 

Spread and stretch the bread into the base of the tin using your hands to make an even layer. Dimple the surface using your fingertips and oil generously.

Decorate 'garden' style, using various herbs, pickles, veggies etc. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of coarse sea salt.

Cover and prove for a second time (around 1/2 hr).

Preheat oven to 180ºC and bake for 1/2 hr, or until golden brown.

Serve as the centre piece for an outdoor lunch!