I make the dough for this Focaccia in the bread machine.  Working on a charter boat there often isn’t time to be making bread by hand every day so the bread machine is a great help to make sure the guests have freshly baked bread every day. I try and make a different style of loaf most days but this is definitely one of my favourites.

1 Cup Water

1/3 Cup Olive Oil

2 tsp Sugar

1 tsp Salt

3 cups bread flour

1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning or a mixture of any of your favourite dried herbs

1 1/2 tsp Active Dry yeast

Pop all the ingredients in your bread machine, activate the dough setting and voila!

Once the dough is ready, with oiled hands, press dough into  a greased 9-inch x 13-inch pan. Using your fingertips, make indentations in the dough.

Cover with a tea-towel and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes or until double in size.  While the dough is rising prepare your topping.

I like to heat a bit of olive oil with some finely chopped garlic and some dried oregano, spread this oil mixture over the dough and then grate parmesan over the top.

You can add anything you want really … onions, olives, different cheeses, different herbs. Fresh Basil or Rosemary would also work really nicely.

Bake at 400f/205c for 20 minutes or until done.

Serve with Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.