ITALIAN FLAT BREAD RECIPES

Steps:

• Combine yeast, sugar, and 1 cup warm water in bowl of a heavy-duty electric stand mixer; let stand 5 minutes. Add 2 cups flour, oil, and salt to bowl, and beat at low speed, using dough hook attachment, 1 minute. Gradually add additional flour until dough begins to leave the sides of the bowl and pull together. (Note: The dough will take on a "shaggy" appearance as the flour is being added. When enough flour has been added, the dough will look soft and smooth, not wet and sticky or overly dry with a rough surface.)
• Increase speed to medium, and beat 5 minutes. Cover bowl of dough with plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk. Punch dough down, and let stand 10 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; shape dough into a 12-inch loaf, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cut 3 (1/4-inch deep) slits across top of dough with a sharp paring knife. (The slits release interior steam and prevent the loaf from blowing apart at the side.)
• Bake at 400° for 16 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
• Herbed Focaccia: Proceed with recipe as directed, shaping dough into a ball instead of a loaf. Roll dough into an 11- x 14-inch rectangle on a lightly greased baking sheet. Press handle of a wooden spoon into dough to make indentations at 1-inch intervals. Drizzle dough evenly with 1 tablespoon olive oil; sprinkle evenly with 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning. Bake at 475° for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
• Pizza Crust: Proceed with recipe as directed, shaping dough into a ball instead of a loaf. Roll dough into an 11- x 14-inch rectangle on a lightly greased baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, or spread with pesto or pizza sauce, and sprinkle with desired toppings. Bake at 475° for 20 to 25 minutes.

Steps:

• For Starter - Mix well - 1 and 1/3 cup all purpose flour, 1 tsp yeast, 1 cup warm water and 1/2 tsp sugar. Cover and leave at room temperature to ferment for at least 4 hours (or until dough doubles in size)
• For Dough - Stir the risen starter and let it rest for 5 minutes. In meantime, in a small bowl, add 4 tbsp warm water, 1/2 cup warm milk, 1 tsp sugar, 1 & 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tbsp oil and mix well. Sprinkle yeast over the rested starter. Add milk and oil mixture and 2 cups of all-purpose flour. Mix well. Transfer to a flour dusted board and knead adding 1 tbsp flour at a time until dough comes together. Knead the dough for 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, swirl the dough in bowl to apply oil all over. Cover and leave at warm place to rise for 2 hours (until it triples in size.)
• Shape the Dough - Punch the dough, transfer to a floured surface. Gently roll the dough to make a 12 inch rectangle. Divide it in four portions.
• Shape the Dough - Sprinkle a baking sheet with 2 tbsp of all-purpose or semolina flour. Shape each half into a small rectangle by folding it like letter (tucking the edges inside). Transfer each folded rectangle to baking sheet, folded ends facing down and place'em in 2 lines, 3-4 inch apart.
• Bake - Preheat oven at 425 Fahrenheit. Cover with kitchen towel and let rise at room temperature for 60 minutes (or until almost doubles in size) , then bake for 22-25 minutes or until tops are brown and bottom of rolls sound hollow when taped.
• Transfer to a cooling rack. Serve warm or let the bread cool completely, then wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for later. To defrost, I microwave frozen bread for 2 minutes at low power.