The smell of fresh-baked bread
Is there anything better? I think not!
I love bread. Good bread. Love, love, love it. But make my own? No way!
Well, this weekend I was majorly craving the good stuff, found yeast in the pantry and discovered this awesome focaccia recipe that didn’t look TOO complicated.
Let’s get started.
Mix yeast and water. Let sit until all the yeast dissolves.
In a bowl, combine salt
sugar (in hindsight, totally should have used agave nectar),
flour,
and the good stuff, olive oil.
Add the yeast-water mixture, plop onto a floured counter and knead.
You’ll know when to stop kneading. The dough takes on the consistency of… dough… and stops being a crumbly mess. Also your hands will start aching. This is either a sign that my hands are terribly out of shape or that I’m old before my time. Take your pick.
Let stand in an oiled bowl for an hour, giving the dough a chance to rise. Mine barely did so don’t be too concerned if an hour passes and it seems like nothing has happened.
Meanwhile, chop up your toppings. I like grape tomatoes and rosemary.
Once the dough has risen, spread it out into whatever shape and pan you want. Rookie mistake: totally should have pressed the tomatoes INTO the dough, not just rested them on top. Ah well, you live, you learn. 
Bake at 400*F for 30 minutes and enjoy the scent of fresh-baked bread wafting through your house. It’s absolutely intoxicating.
Et voila! Bread! As easy as buying it from the store? Not really, although cheaper and without having to leave home. As beautiful? Nope, mine came out super lumpy and unattractive. But delicious? You betcha!
Check out Talk of Tomatoes for more amazing Tuscan-inspired recipes.
Have you baked yeast bread before? Success or no? In my opinion, as long as it tastes good, who cares what it looks like?! 
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Aw how cool! Mine turned out lumpy too;). Two things I learned since I posted (rookie stuff here too;))):
1. After the initial mixing, wash your hands before continuing with the kneading.
2. The best it ever turned out, I had mixed all the dry stuff, then added the yeast water, and after one or two stirs, THEN put in the olive oil (it was a mistake actually, but it made it so much easier to blend the oil and the bread turned out great;)!!
Now I am craving the smell of bread baking!
Thanks for the updated tips!
I’m with you, I love bread. I finally bought a bread machine. Love it! I can’t wait to try this recipe. Looks delish!
I too love bread, but I have never had the cajones to make yeast bread myself.
Yours doesn’t look lumpy to me, it looks delicious!
I’m terrified of baking my own bread. I can never get it to rise. But I love going into a local bakery on a weekend and getting some fresh out of the oven from there!
For some dumb reason I’m scared of (or can’t be bothered with) making my own bread.
Yours looks marvey delish!
It was my first time!
Mmm, that bread looks fantastic! I just love the smell of fresh baked bread…
<3 jess
xoxo
P.S Thanks for the comment!! You are going on my google reader
Cool, just added you!
I’ve always wanted to make my own bread from scratch! Except I’m afraid mine won’t come out as “fluffy” as store-bought
Mine looked NOTHING like store-bought haha but it still tasted delish and that’s what counts.
Your bread looks really good… I have NOT baked bread… my husband is the bread baker in our household…
Nope- i’ve never made bread before. Yours look delicious though.
xo
Jocelyn
http://peacelovenutrition.wordpress.com/
!!! Wow!!! Thank you for posting this! Tad and I have been talking about how we need to learn how to make the delicious restaurant style bread. I’m going to check this out next time I’m in whole foods.
There really is nothing better than that scent! YUM!
I’ve always wanted to try making my own bread but lack the patience and time! Your bread looks amazing!
yeast bread = a whole lot of work and usually at least two trys before I finally have a winner, but always worth it!! YUMMMMM
One of the first times I tried to make bread (or really it’s the first time I remember making bread), I made French Bread. It turned out fantastic … here are the posts and the horror stories I thought I was going to have. You’ll have to try this recipe, it’s easy, and it makes a ridiculous amount of bread!
http://yuppish.net/2009/08/16/this-was-a-horrible-idea/
http://yuppish.net/2009/08/16/ok-i-lied/
I’ve spent the last 6 months baking a variety of breads. (I like to bake, but I don’t want to bake cookies and cakes because then I’ll just eat them!)
I’m toying with the thought of taking part in the Bread Baker’s Apprentice (BBA) Challenge on the blog Pinch My Salt. Bake every recipe in Peter Reinhart’s cookbook The Bread Baker’s Apprentice. I’m a bit intimidated though. I’ve had my fair share of breads go wrong.