Focaccia Bread

4 cups of all purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 pkg yeast

2 cups water

Mix the flour, salt and yeast together in a large bowl.  Slowy add the water and stir with a wooden spoon till it all comes together and pulls away from the bowl.  If it’s too wet, add a bit more flour.  Dump it out onto a floured cutting board and knead it for 1 MINUTE.  Put it in an olive oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrappy stuff.  Put it in a warm place for 1 HOUR.  Heat your oven to 400. Remove plastic, and punch the dough. Don’t handle it too much.  Place it in a well olive oiled 9×11 pan. Poke holes all over with your finger or a wood spoon handle. Cover entire thing with olive oil. Don’t skimp on the oil. Then sprinkle on your toppings and bake it for 10 minutes. Sprinkle more olive oil and turn pan, and bake another 10 minutes.  (I only did 5 minutes since I like my bread light in color.) Remove from the oven and brush more olive oil. YES! more oil….trust me. I don’t even like olive oil and this was amazing. Let it sit in the pan for about 10 minutes and then remove. Then, just devour it….shove it in your face….pour yourself a glass of wine, enjoy. I made a great sammich with it today. YUM YUM.

Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Relish

1 cup chopped up pineapple (or crushed would work)
1 Serrano chile, minced up very fine
1 tablespoon minced purple onion  (you might call it red onion)
squeeze 1 lemon or lime
salt & pepper
2 tablespoons of olive oil

Combine everything, let it set awhile. I added a few grape tomatoes that I had pan roasted. Just spoon it over your fish or chicken and say YUM-m-m-m-m-m-m-m.

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Orange Crumble Coffee Cake

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
zest of 1 orange
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup orange juice

Cream butter, sugar and egg. In another bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Alternately add dry ingredients and liquids to butter mixture.  Butter or spray a sheet pan or baking dish and spread batter evenly. Top with crumble and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.  Check it to make sure toothpick comes out clean when you poke it.

Crumble: 1 stick of melted butter, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup brown sugar. Mix it up and sprinkle on cake.

When cake is still warm, drizzle orange glaze, which is a mixture of powdered sugar and orange juice (mixed to your preferred thickness)

Edamame Hummus (bean dip)

bag frozen edamame beans, thawed
1 garlic clove
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger (not powdered)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 green onions
salt
juice of 1 good size lime
chili paste or wasabi to taste

Just throw everything in the food processor and pulse till you have a smooth consistency. Add a bit of water if it’s too thick. ENJOY!