Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Last night when I was trying to figure out what to do with my Fresh Cilantro Cottonseed Oil from Acala Farms *- click to read my full product review: here - I realized that I had no bread in the house. It was almost midnight. That made my decision for me: I would make focaccia dough, let it rise overnight, and bake it fresh in the morning. I need to remember to do it more often. Freshly baked bread is so much better than a packaged loaf, isn't it? And this is so easy. Ingredients 2 C warm water 1 T active dry yeast 1 T granulated honey (you can use granulated sugar) 5 C flour, plus additional for kneading 1 T freshly chopped cilantro 1 T freshly ground sea salt for sprinkling 1/2 t freshly ground pepper for sprinkling olive oil for greasing your bowl oil for drizzling on your focaccia (I used the Fresh Cilantro Flavor-Infused Cottonseed Oil from  Acala Farms ) Procedure Combine the warm water, yeast and granulated honey in a small bowl. Let the...

I needed some bread to make sandwiches for the boys' lunches and really didn't want to run out to the store. So, I decided to make focaccia. It's my easy go-to. And you can even make sweet focaccia if you like. Here's a Rhubarb Focaccia that I've made...delish! 2 C warm water 1 T active dry yeast 1 T granulated honey 5 C flour, plus additional for kneading 1 T freshly ground sea salt, plus more for sprinkling 1/2 C extra-virgin olive oil Combine the warm water, yeast and granulated honey in a small bowl. Let the yeast bloom for 10-15 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and olive oil with the yeast mixture. Beat with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together. Continue to knead for 5 to 6 minutes until it becomes smooth and soft. Sprinkle with more flour if the dough is really sticky. Coat the inside of the bowl lightly with olive oil and return the dough to the bowl and turn to coat. Cover it with a dish towel and...

Use the Sweet Focaccia Dough: here . Then press slices of plum into the top of the dough. Sprinkle with organic granulated sugar. Put the dough in the warm place until it has doubled in size again, about 1 hour. While the dough is rising a second time, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Generously sprinkle the top of the focaccia with some more sugar and lightly drizzle a little more olive oil on top. Bake the dough until the top of the loaf is golden brown, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool before cutting and serving. *Update 7/26/2013: Adding this recipe to Close to Home's  Friday Food Frenzy .*

I saw somewhere a recipe for a sweet focaccia. Novel idea. My focaccie are always savory. Since I didn't bookmark the recipe, I decided to wing it and make some sweet focaccie for a Saturday picnic after a day of fossil-hunting. Sweet Focaccia Dough 2 C warm water 1 T active dry yeast 1 T raw organic honey  5 C flour, plus additional for kneading 1/4 C coconut oil 1/4 C extra-virgin olive oil Combine the warm water, yeast and honey in a small bowl. Let the yeast bloom for 10-15 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and the olive oil with the yeast mixture. Beat with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together. Continue to knead for 5 to 6 minutes until it becomes smooth and soft. Sprinkle with more flour if the dough is really sticky. Coat the inside of the bowl lightly with olive oil and return the dough to the bowl and turn to coat. Cover it with a dish towel and put it in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, at leas...

I don't know what's more amusing - that my 9-year-old didn't know what a BLT was or that he thought I said 'Beetle Tea' was for dinner and he didn't even blink. For the record, I have never fed my kids beetles! Crickets, yes. Beetles, no. Baker's Bacon A couple of friends went to a bacon workshop last night and brought me two packets. I love Baker's Bacon ! The one I used for tonight's dinner: Baker's Double Applewood Smoked Bacon . Thanks, Brian and Pia! You definitely know the way to my heart. Sea Salt Focaccia 2 C warm water 1 T active dry yeast 1 T raw organic honey  5 C flour, plus additional for kneading 1 T freshly ground sea salt, plus more for sprinkling 1/2 C extra-virgin olive oil, divided Combine the warm water, yeast and honey in a small bowl. Let the yeast bloom for 10-15 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and half of the olive oil with the yeast mixture. Beat with a wooden spoon...