Whole Wheat Foccacia with Olives and Jalapenos and Basil and Happy Tummies

By Shalinidigvijay @shalinidigvijay
“Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.” 
― James Beard
The winters have really dug their claws in... Just feels like the Dementors from JK Rowling's imagination must be here... Its cold already ... Too cold by any standards... And the sun is playing hide and seek.
Some one seems to have forgotten the count ... So the sun just refuses to say BOO from behind the haze and clouds. And this weather just makes one so grateful for the roof on our heads and the warmth in our home and hearth that we so take for granted.
The best way to banish the winter blues is CARBOHYDRATES!
I'd suggest ,banishing the diets and eating till your tummy and heart feels full and warm .
A loaf or two of warm bread,peppered with spices and jalapenos and fresh herbs...
Liberally dunked and smeared with EVOO...
I love , I mean love the taste of AMUL butter. For me, butter is synonymous with AMUL. I'm a purist.
However ,this whole wheat foccacia smelt mediterranian. Enough for us to ditch the butter and go for something better.
Extra Virgin Olive oil.
We were taking a break with the parents,and just to add some wow to our meals...I made at this whole wheat Foccacia.
The parents are big on health and low fat and low carb foods...
So it had to be whole wheat.
It is always a challenge to make a whole wheat bread tasty.
So we hugged and embraced the challenge- and mom and dad.
for the
Whole Wheat Foccacia with Olives and Jalapenos and Basil and Happy Tummies...
you need
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour-atta
2 tsp dried yeast
1 tbsp olive oil/melted butter or any vegetable oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 fist full fresh basil
1/4 cup drained olives
1/4 cup drained jalapenos
a fist full of chopped garlic chives and dried herbs-optional
Olive oil to brush
Since the cold had begun to creep in, I set the dough to rise at night for bread at breakfast.
You can do it in an hours time if you are in a hurry or enterprising.
Start with a cup of warm water in a large bowl.Add the sugar and the yeast and set it aside till the yeast creams.
When it does ,add the olive oil.You can add more oil if you want too...there is no limit to goodness!
Now add in 1 cup of the flour and mix.
I did the mixing with my hands.Gloppy ,gloopy mess!
That BTW is the sponge like the sour dough starter.
Cover and set aside.
After you see some bubbles and sponge , add in the rest of the flour ,salt and the fresh herbs-if you want to.Knead to get an elastic dough.You may need a little more flour or a little more water...to knead.Its "A" OK!
Cover and set aside to double in volume. Use a big bowl.
Next morning, the dough was more than doubled. I used my hands to spread it out on a floured surface to about 12 inches by 6 inches. Sprinkled the dried herbs...
the jalapenos and the olives and some of the basil...
And folded it over to get three layers. Rolled it out to the size of the baking tray and...pinched some dimples in it...
A series of dimples.I then sprinkled the basil over and covered it.
Preheat the oven to 230C/450F.
A little milk washed over the bread and it is ready to go in...
In for about 25-30 minutes....
And it was done...
Out ...
We smeared it with the EVOO- olive oil...

And had breakfast... Check the texture and the crumb of the bread...
Flat out wholesome and whole wheat.
All meals should be made of this..
Wholesomeness ,bread, eggs and family.
And memories...
I made foccacia with plain flour and stuff here.The aromas were to DIE for.
The bread was sweet and tasted spicy...because of the jalapenos...the olives are always good to bite into and fresh basil and garlic chives are always great.
Bring some warmth in...
Expecto Patronum!!
Shoo the dementors...
Great way to begin your mornings...or to end the day.
Try this instead of your usual paranthas for breakfast.
So what are you baking today???