Olive Oil And Herbes De Provence Bread Recipes

OLIVE OIL AND HERBES DE PROVENCE BREAD

Steps:

• Stir the sugar and yeast into the water, and set aside for 10 minutes to dissolve.
• Put the olive oil and salt in a large mixing bowl, and add the yeast mixture.
• Beat in 1-1/2 cups/285 g of the flour, until smooth, along with the herbs.
• Work in the remaining cup/125 g flour, turning it onto the countertop to knead, until you have smooth, springy dough, 10 to 15 minutes. (I found 15 minutes yeilded a much better bread than 10 minutes).
• Cover with a tea towel and set in a warm place to rise to double, about 45 minutes.
• Punch the dough down and shape into a loaf. (I shaped mine into a ball by pressing the dough slightly flat, folding in the corners, pinching them together and then flipping the ball over with the pinched corners on the bottom. I then made three long slices in the top for steam to escape. This is how Laura did it on the show.).
• Let rise again 30 minutes (or not), and bake at 400ºF/200ºC for 25 minutes until done. I brush the loaf with an egg/milk wash before I bake it, but it's not necessary. The wash is 1 yolk beaten with a tablespoon or two of milk. You can also spray the loaf lightly with water, or put a pan of boiling water in the oven to give the bread a crispy crust.
• Let the bread cool a little before slicing to serve.

HERBES DE PROVENCE FOCACCIA

Steps:

• NOTE: homemade herbes de Provence is easy to make. **Very important to use a herbes de Provence recipe that has lavender. Some recipes do not specify it.
• In a small bowl, stir the sugar and yeast into 1 1/2 cups warm water. Allow to stand 5 minutes or until the mixture becomes bubbly.
• In a food processor or large bowl, combine both flours and the salt. Add the yeast mixture and process until soft dough forms. Pour 4 tablespoons of the olive oil through the feed tube while the motor is running. Process 2 minutes more or until dough pulls from the side of the processor.
• Transfer dough to bowl coated with olive oil, cover with clean kitchen cotton towel and proof 45 minutes in warm spot.
• Prepare a baking sheet by coating with oil. Pat the dough into an 11 x 13-inch rectangle. (The shape doesn't have to be perfect because this is a rustic bread.) Cover with clean cotton towel and let rise 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Place oven rack on lowest level. With your fingertips, gently poke holes randomly all over the bread dough. Brush focaccia with olive oil. Sprinkle evenly with the herbes de Provence and a little bit of salt.
• Bake approximately 30 minutes or until both the top and bottom of bread are golden brown.
• Remove from oven and let set for 15 minutes before slicing. (We don't slice however, we grab and tear.).