Mama's Famous Focaccia With Optional Gorgonzola Topping

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 16
• 1 tablespoon dry active yeast
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 1/2-4 cups flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup cream
• 1/2 lb gorgonzola
• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, chopped
• fresh ground pepper
• olive oil, for brushing

Recipe

• 1 focaccia:.
• 2 stir the yeast into the warm water in a large bowl: let stand for 10 minutes. stir in the olive oil, the flour and salt. knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic about 5 minutes.
• 3 place the dough in an oiled use (olive oil) bowl and cover with plastic wrap. let rise until double in size, about 1 1/2 hours. flatten and stretch the dough to cover as much the bottom of an oiled 12 by 17 inch baking sheet. dimple the dough with your fingertips.
• 4 if not using a topping such as the gorgonzola, dimple the top of the bread using your finger to make indents about 1" deep. drizzle olive oil on top of the bread- it should run down into the dimples- that is great!
• 5 topping:.
• 6 mix the cream, gorgonzola cheese and rosemary in a food processor. spread the mixture over the dough with a rubber spatula. season with freshly ground black pepper. brush the top with olive oil.
• 7 finishing:.
• 8 now let the dough rise for 1 hour. meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400.
• 9 bake for about 20 minutes. after the bread cools, cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.