While the rest of us have been hooked on baking banana bread and spending hours devoted to feeding our sourdough starters, let’s just for a minute, see what the kids have been up to.
Disclaimer – prepare to have your mind BLOWN.
First catching my eye on Facebook group Shelf Cooking Community, I thought this brightly coloured bread was the work of an adult. How very wrong I was.
Focaccia art is a thing – just ask the kids!
Moving over to Instagram, the Delish Kitch post reads “Well. Wegmans had zero flowers for mother’s day. They temporarily have no floral department so, my 9-year-old Emme Grace decided to make Nana a flower-covered focaccia. The dough is enriched with Italian olive oil infused with garlic and herbs. Its a super delish appetizer bread.”
“The decorating is optional. Here Emme used bell peppers, scallions thyme, parsley, cherry tomatoes, red onions and basil. The only problem.. Is it too pretty to cut into?? It smells so good, I’m sure it will get gobbled up. We took pictures.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAA8t6iDF8k/
Oh Emme Grace. Bless your flat bread, nana loving heart. This is WAY better than a bunch of flowers.
And now I’m looking at my 14-year-old and wondering what his deal is and when will he step up to the Junior Masterchef throne?
Emme Grace’s mum Holly tells me “recipes are for sharing” and honestly, it fills my heart. How lucky are we to have such people willing to share how to recreate such a fun gift for our loved ones.
Want to have a crack at creating your own edible masterpiece? Keep scrolling down, Holly’s recipe is listed below!
Kids in the kitchen and LEARNING
If nothing else, this whole home isolation during COVID-19 has got us all back in the kitchen, kids included. And while yes, there’s LOTS of mess that kids create (and not always clean up), cooking is a brilliant teaching tool. Kids practice reading skills when following recipes, brush up on maths with measuring and learning the art of cause and effect. Getting in the kitchen can be so fun, kids don’t even realise they’re learning!
Decorated rosemary garlic focaccia recipe
Ingredients:
- ½ cup good-tasting Italian extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 large garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon of dried
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ¼ teaspoon honey
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Various herbs and veggies for decorating (red onion, cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs, capsicums etc)
Directions:
- In a medium skillet, combine olive oil, minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, and the black pepper. Place the pan over low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes. Do not brown the garlic. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and honey. Stir a few times then let sit for 5 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of the flour and a ¼ cup of the infused garlic-olive oil mixture to the bowl with yeast and honey. Stir 3 to 4 times until the flour has moistened. Let sit for another 5 minutes.
- Stir in the remaining 1½ cups of flour and the salt. When the dough comes together, transfer to a floured surface such as the counter and knead 10 to 15 times until smooth.
- Place the dough in a large oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap. and let rise for 1 hour. I rise my dough in my dryer that has been turned on for 6 minutes, turned off then a bowl of dough placed in. Place the bowl on a tray to create a flat spot in the dryer.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C)
- Oil a 9″ by 13″ rimmed baking sheet with 2 Tablespoons of the garlic oil.
- Transfer the dough to the baking sheet then press it into the pan. The dough should cover the bottom of the pan.
- Use your fingers to dimple the dough then drizzle the top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of the garlic/olive oil mixture. Let the dough rise for 20 minutes until it puffs slightly.
- Decorate the dough with herbs and veggies as desired.
- Bake until golden brown 15 to 20 minutes
- Cool in pan on a wire rack.
We’d love to hear what creative gifts are being made in your home and where your iso baking is at. Are you up to the same level as Emme Grace yet? Why not empty your fridge crisper to see what offerings you have and give focaccia a go!
