Let’s talk about cultural differences. We’ve got em, am i right?
For example, if I were to ask you about a hot brown, you might think I was talkin’ about takin’ a deuce instead of a sandwich.
If I were to tell you how much my husband loves ‘Pho’ you might think I stopped halfway through a word. an awkward one.
And, if I were to start talking about the recent batch of focaccia I made, my southern family might ask, ‘fool caught ya’ doin’ what?
Fool caught me making bread, Mom. It’s bread. I love you.
Sweet Onion Focaccia
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups chopped yellow onions
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 envelope (1/4-ounce) active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup warm water (about 110 degrees F.)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons Kosher salt
In a large saute pan, over medium heat, add the oil. Add the onions, and season with salt and pepper. Saute until caramelized, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and cool completely.
Using an electric mixer with a dough hook, whisk the yeast, sugar, garlic, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, warm water, and caramelized onions together for 2 minutes to dissolve the yeast. Add the salt and flour. With the mixer on low, mix until the dough starts to come together. Increase the speed and mix until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl and crawls up the dough hook. Grease a mixing bowl with olive oil. Place the dough in the greased bowl and turn once. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm place until the dough doubles in size about 1 hour. Grease a baking sheet with olive oil. Turn the dough out onto a baking sheet. Punch the dough down and press the dough out to form the pan. Brush the dough with remaining 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Sprinkle the dough with kosher salt and coarse black pepper. Lightly cover the pan with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 1 hour. Bake the dough for 30 to 35 minutes at 350.
Please excuse me while I celebrate many other cultural differences over the next week in Mexico. I won’t be tweeting, facebooking, emailing or blogging, in order to immerse myself in as much cultural awkwardness as I can.
‘Police never die,’ anyone?
Love,
Whit
