Last Christmas my mom gave my sister and me the two-volume hardcover anniversary edition of Julia Child's "The Art of French Cooking", which was responsible for this bit of deliciousness. The Christmas before that, though, she gave us both another lovely cookbook called "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day." She was making her own bread out of dough stored in a plastic crock in her refrigerator, and it looked easy and tasted delicious.
So, naturally, I forgot about it for an entire year.
Then last year at New Year's, my sister made focaccia bread from the same recipe book, and it turned out she'd been making fabulous bread of all sorts ever since she got the book. I got inspired - I can do this! I did a little research on wheat flour and bought a big plastic container and earmarked a few interesting recipes. I was ready to go!
And forgot about it for another four months.
Finally, though, I got myself pulled together and made this focaccia bread, topped with olive oil, rosemary, and coarse kosher salt. It was beyond delicious, and I have no idea why I promptly put the recipe book back in the cupboard and forgot to ever make it again. Hmmm ... come to think of it, I've got a little time this afternoon ...
