Focaccia Bread

Flawless Focaccia Bread

2 hours, start to finish

2 C. warm water
1 pkg active dry yeast
1 TBS. sugar
4 C. flour
2 tsp. salt
1-2 TBS. Italian seasonings

Toppings:
1/4 C. butter, melted
garlic salt
Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions.
1. In small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water.

2. Blend together remaining 1 1/2 cup warm water, dissolved yeast, sugar, flour and salt in mixer bowl. Combine well. Mix in Italian seasoning. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise to double or more (about and hour).

3. Grease 9x13 pan. Scoop dough into prepared pan, dough will be very sticky. You will be tempted, but don't add any extra flour. Butter your clean hands and coax the dough into all the edges of the pan.

4. Let dough rise again for 20 min, meanwhile preheat oven to 400 degrees. Before baking, poke indents in the focaccia with your fingers. Drizzle melted butter over the top of the bread. Sprinkle some garlic salt over the top and add a couple handfuls of Parmesan cheese.

5. Bake 20 minuets. After cooling for ten minuets, turn focaccia out on cutting board and slice into thick bread sticks. Pile them into a bread basket and serve to hungry guests.

There is nothing that I would change to the basic bread recipe because it is so easy and good, however, i found a recipe for an herbed oil that sounds really good to drizzle on the bread as an option.
For the Herb Oil:
2 cups olive oil1 cup chopped fresh herbs (any combination of basil, parsley, oregano, tarragon, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, savory, and sage) - OR - 1/3 cup dried herbs or a blend such as herbes de Provence1 tablespoon coarse (kosher) salt1 teaspoon ground black pepper1 tablespoon granulated garlic or 5 to 6 fresh cloves, minced.