Caramelized Sweet Potato Focaccia Food

FABULOUS FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook, proof the yeast by combining it with the warm water and sugar. Stir gently to dissolve. Let stand 3 minutes until foam appears. Turn mixer on low and slowly add the flour to the bowl. Dissolve salt in 2 tablespoons of water and add it to the mixture. Pour in 1/4 cup olive oil. When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium. Stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Mix until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary.
• Turn the dough out onto a work surface and fold over itself a few times. Form the dough into a round and place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat the entire ball with oil so it doesn't form a skin. Cover with plastic wrap or damp towel and let rise over a gas pilot light on the stovetop or other warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
• Coat a sheet pan with a little olive oil and corn meal. Once the dough is doubled and domed, turn it out onto the counter. Roll and stretch the dough out to an oblong shape about 1/2-inch thick. Lay the flattened dough on the pan and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for 15 minutes.
• In the meantime, coat a small saute pan with olive oil, add the onion, and cook over low heat for 15 minutes until the onions caramelize. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Uncover the dough and dimple with your fingertips. Brush the surface with more olive oil and then add caramelized onions, garlic, olives, cheese, salt, pepper, and rosemary. Bake on the bottom rack for 15 to 20 minutes.

FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast and sugar over 1/2 cup warm water in a large bowl. Stir to dissolve, and let stand 10 minutes, until the mixture is foamy. Add remaining 2 cups warm water, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 cups flour, and salt; stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Gradually add 4 cups flour, using your hands once mixture becomes too thick to stir. If dough is still too wet, add just enough of the remaining cup flour until it is no longer sticky.
• Turn out dough onto a clean work surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, using any remaining flour, if needed. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Transfer dough to an oiled 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet; stretch to fill sheet, and press to form an even thickness. If dough shrinks back, cover with a damp towel, and let rest 10 minutes before proceeding. Once dough fills sheet, cover with a damp kitchen towel; let rise again until doubled in bulk, about 30 minutes.
• Using your fingers, make dimplelike indentations all over surface of dough. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil; spread with your hands to coat evenly.
• Place baking sheet in oven. Toss a cup of ice cubes into bottom of oven to create steam (if using a gas oven, place a small baking dish of ice water on oven floor). Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes, rotating pan halfway through; avoid opening oven any more than necessary or the steam will escape. Transfer focaccia to a wire rack to cool.

SWEET ONION FOCACCIA

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, stretch and roll pizza dough to a 12 in circle.
• Place on lightly greased pizza pan, or regular pie plate.
• Allow dough to rise in warm, draft free location 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile in medium frypan, heat oil over medium low heat, stir in onion.
• Cook, stirring frequently 15 minutes or until onions are softened and light golden brown.
• Stir in garlic and sugar and cook 5 minutes longer.
• Place onion mixture on top of dough, sprinkle with rosemary and salt, if using.
• Bake at 400F for 20 minutes or until dough is puffed and golden brown.

" SWEET LIFE" SWEET POTATO FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together warm water, honey & yeast. Let stand 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add olive oil, rosemary, Italian spice, sweet potatoes, salt, ww flour & Italian-style flour. Stir vigorously for about 2 minutes. Gradually stir in enough ap flour to make a soft dough.
• Turn out on lightly floured surface and knead in enough of the remaining ap flour to make a workable dough. Knead 5 to 8 minutes. Dough will be sticky but workable. Place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover. Let rise 1 1/2 hours in a warm place; alternatively cover dough & refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.
• Allow dough to warm at least 30 minutes before shaping. .
• Line a 18 x 13 1 inch pan with parchment paper & sprinkle with cornmeal. Gently press dough over the cornmeal dusted paper, stretching dough into a 15 x 11 x 1 inch rectangle. Cover dough & let rise 15 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Dimple the dough vigorously with your fingertips, leaving up to 1/2 inch deep indentations. Sprinkle garlic, rosemary, Asiago cheese, black pepper & cayenne pepper over top. Drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle with coarse salt.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

CARMELIZED ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a large bowl add sweet potatoes, 4 tablespoons of maple syrup, 4 tablespoons of the olive oil, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper. Mix to evenly coat the potatoes. Set aside.
• In a large skillet over low heat, add 3-4 tablespoons olive oil until heated. Add the sliced onions. Saute, stirring every so often for 20 minutes or until they caramelize. (NOTE: it is very important to saute the onions over low heat, to avoid them from burning). Once they are caramelized, add the remaining 3 to 4 tablespoons maple syrup and the balsamic vinegar. Stir to mix flavors. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue sauteing until onions are dark golden brown and fully caramelized, about 5-10 minutes more. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if pan becomes dry. (Refer to Tidbit below).
• Arrange sweet potatoes on a sheet tray. Roast for about 25 to 30 minutes. Mid-way through cooking, lift and turn-over potatoes to brown evenly. Dot caramelized onions over the roasted sweet potato cubes. With a spatula, lift and turn-over potatoes again to evenly distribute onion mixture. Roast for an additional 5 - 8 minutes until potatoes are cooked through and slightly browned. Taste for seasoning.
• Transfer to serving tray and enjoy!
• Tidbit: Note that onions will cook down alot; decreasing the volume. Depending on the power of your stove top and the amount of onions you have in the pan, it may take a longer time for onions to be fully carmelized. They should be dark (not burned) and cooked way down.
• Another tidbit: If not using freshly ground pepper in this recipe, it makes a big enough difference. The store prepared ground doesn't have as much depth.