Uncle Brads Focaccia Stuffing Food

FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Combine the warm water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Put the bowl in a warm, not hot or cool, place until the yeast is bubbling and aromatic, at least 15 minutes.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, 1/2 cup olive oil and the yeast mixture on low speed. Once the dough has come together, continue to knead for 5 to 6 minutes on a medium speed until it becomes smooth and soft. Give it a sprinkle of flour if the dough is really sticky and tacky.
• Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly floured surface, then knead it by hand 1 or 2 times. Again, give it another sprinkle of flour if the dough is really sticky and tacky.
• Coat the inside of the mixer bowl lightly with olive oil and return the dough to the bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and put it in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, at least 1 hour.
• Coat a jelly roll pan with the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. (Chef's Note: This may seem excessive, but focaccia is an oily crusted bread. This is why it is soooooooooo delicious!).
• Put the dough onto the jelly roll pan and begin pressing it out to fit the size of the pan. Turn the dough over to coat the other side with the olive oil. Continue to stretch the dough to fit the pan. As you are doing so, spread your fingers out and make finger holes all the way through the dough. (Chef's Note: Yes, this is strange. But when the dough rises again it will create the characteristic craggy looking focaccia. If you do not make the actual holes in the dough, the finished product will be very smooth.)
• Put the dough in the warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour. While the dough is rising a second time, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Liberally sprinkle the top of the focaccia with some coarse sea salt and lightly drizzle a little oil on top. Bake the dough until the top of the loaf is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool before cutting and serving.
• Oh baby!

STUFFED FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Put the flour and 5g of sea salt into a large bowl and make a well in the middle. In a jug, mix the yeast into 300ml of lukewarm water, leave for a few minutes, then gradually pour it into the well, stirring and bringing in the flour from the outside to form a dough. Knead on a flour-dusted surface for 10 minutes, or until smooth and springy. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean damp tea towel and prove in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size. Meanwhile, pod the broad beans into a bowl, pinching the skins off any larger ones. Peel the garlic, finely chop with the top leafy half of the parsley and add to the bowl with 75ml of extra virgin olive oil. Finely grate in the pecorino and lemon zest, squeeze in the juice, season, mix together, then put aside.
• Lightly oil a deep baking tray (30cm x 40cm), and dust evenly with the breadcrumbs. Pound the dough a few times with your fist, then roll or stretch it out to 30cm x 80cm. Drape half the dough into the tray, leaving the rest overhanging. Pour over the broad bean mixture in an even layer, keeping some of the oil behind. Fold the overhanging dough over the top, drizzle with the reserved oil, then use your fingers to gently push down and, importantly, create lots of dips and wells in the dough. Cover with a clean damp tea towel and leave to prove until doubled in size again.
• Preheat the oven to 220ºC/425ºF/gas 7. Sprinkle the dough with sea salt, then bake for 25 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Let it cool on a board, then slice up and tuck in. Absolute heaven.

ROSEMARY FOCACCIA STUFFING WITH PANCETTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and butter a 3-quart baking dish. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring, until browned, about 6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate.
• Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons butter in the skillet, then add the onion, celery, sun-dried tomatoes, sage, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
• Whisk the eggs and parsley in a large bowl. Add the focaccia, ciabatta, pancetta, vegetable-broth mixture and fontina; stir until combined. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Drizzle with the turkey drippings (or dot with butter); sprinkle with the parmesan.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake until golden, about 30 more minutes.

FOCACCIA STUFFING WITH APPLES AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Place cubed bread on ungreased cookie sheet; bake 10 to 15 minutes or until dry and crispy. Cool completely on cookie sheet.
• Meanwhile, spray 4-quart Dutch oven with cooking spray; place over medium-low heat. Add pancetta; cook about 13 minutes, stirring frequently, until rendered and lightly browned. Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to large bowl; set aside. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from Dutch oven; discard or reserve for another use.
• Melt butter with the 2 tablespoons pancetta fat in Dutch oven. Increase heat to medium-high; add onion, celery, salt and pepper. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add apples; cook 2 minutes longer.
• Add broth to Dutch oven; heat to simmering. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, using spoon to release browned bits from bottom. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes.
• Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Add eggs, thyme and sage to pancetta in bowl. Stir in bread. Pour broth mixture over ingredients in bowl. Stir to combine. Pour into baking dish.
• Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until center is hot and top is browned and crispy. Cool 5 minutes. In small bowl, stir together Topping ingredients. Sprinkle over stuffing in dish.

UNCLE BRAD'S FOCACCIA STUFFING

Steps:

• Slice and dice the focaccia bread into small cubes no larger than half a walnut and set aside. Chop the celery into pieces about 1/4 inch in width. Finely dice the onion. Heat butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat. (Do not overheat the butter, the vegetables should be cooked and softened, not pan-fried.) Stir in the onion and celery, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 15 to 20 minutes. (This can be done up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated. If so, reheat before continuing the recipe.) Once the turkey is brined and seasoned, and immediately prior to stuffing it, mix the stuffing ingredients with hot stock: (if including the optional sausage, cook and rinse it before mixing ingredients) *Optional sausage addition: In large, heavy skillet over moderate heat, sauté 1 pound mild pork sausage, breaking into small pieces with spoon, until meat shows no sign of pink. Rinse the excess fat off of the sausage with warm water. Proceed with recipe, adding the sausage to the stuffing. In a large bowl, mix the focaccia cubes, heated vegetables, celery salt, sage, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper, and optional sausage. Stir in 1 1/4 cups hot stock. Immediately fill Turkey cavities and spread remainder into a buttered 9 x 13 baking dish and drizzle with 1/2 cup more of hot stock. Cover with aluminum foil and bake with the turkey until heated through, about 20 minutes. Remove and set aside until the turkey is finished. When the turkey is removed from the oven, mix the stuffing from the turkey into the stuffing in the 9 x 13 baking dish. Uncover and bake until top is slightly crisp and golden. Serve immediately.

FOCACCIA STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place cubed bread in a large bowl and set aside.
• In a dry skillet, toast pine nuts over medium heat until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add the nuts to the bread cubes.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring often. To the bread bowl, add the onions and garlic, along with the sundried tomatoes, artichokes, basil, stock, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined well.
• Oil a 3-quart casserole dish and spoon the stuffing into the dish. Drizzle the last 1 tablespoon of oil over the stuffing. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover, and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

UNCLE BILL'S STUFFED SWEET PEPPERS

Steps:

• Carefully cut out the stem portion of the peppers.
• Remove seeds and membranes carefully and discard.
• Place peppers (stand upright) in a large saucepan.
• Add 1/2 cup water, cover and bring to boil and parboil for 5 minutes.
• Drain well; set aside covered.
• In a medium saucepan, add rice and chicken broth and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.
• In a large frying pan, add olive oil, ground beef and chopped onion and saute' until mixture is lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add chopped celery, sliced mushrooms, grated carrots, garlic powder, Italian herb seasoning mix, salt, pepper, crushed tomatoes including liquid, cooked rice, dill weed; mix well and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Carefully stuff peppers with mixture.
• Place stuffed peppers (standing up) in a deep, oven-proof casserole dish.
• Spoon any remaining mixture over peppers.
• In a small mixing bowl, mix together ketchup and water.
• Pour this sauce equally over the stuffing in each pepper.
• Cover casserole dish with a lid or tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated 350 F oven for 20 minutes.
• Remove lid or foil, sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese on top of the stuffed peppers.
• Continue to bake uncovered at 350 F for another 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
• Serve hot.
• You may use a combination of red, orange, yellow or green peppers for a colorful presentation and a variety of taste.