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Sunday, May 25, 2014

Garden Focaccia for #SundaySupper #ChooseDreams

This post is sponsored by American Family Insurance. All opinions are my own

Happy Sunday!!! Today's #SundaySupper event is sponsored by American Family Insurance and I am very excited to be one of their Brand Advocates for this event.  American Family Insurance is a champion of dreams and aims to inspire all of us to pursue our dreams. Learn more about the #ChooseDreams campaign  by following this hashtag and American Family Insurance on Twitter, YouTube, Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook and Pinterest.  Is one one of your pursuits to eat more garden fresh vegetables?  You have come to the right place as this week's #SundaySupper theme is Recipes from the Garden.  It is a theme that just in time for the start of planting vegetables for a new growing season and something certainly many of us dream off.

Do you grow your own vegetables?   Do you start them early from seeds, or do you buy seedlings?  Every year I plan to start seedlings, but just like that it never happens.  We plant a few seeds and buy tomato, cucumber, and {for the first time this year} green bean seedlings. I love going to the nursery to pick them out;  there is something magical about picking out the plants and thinking of the food they will reward us with later in the summer.  We cross our fingers that we will be able to keep up with their watering needs and yes, we do live in Oregon but many of you may not know that it does not rain here at the entire year.  Yes, our glorious, dry summers are a well kept secret :)

Don't let a lack of space keep you from growing your own vegetables. We live in the city and do not have a lot of space for a vegetable garden, I therefore plant most of our vegetables in pots.  The beans grow in a large planter are by our front door, and the girls love to pick them as they grow. The tomatoes grow in pots and we usually keep them in the side yard but they can be easily moved to get more sun if needed.   The cucumber grows yet in another pot…small space gardening :)


The girls planted the peas from seed - as every year - at the south side of our house; I am happy to say that both of our girls like to garden.   They learn about gardening as part of the curriculum at their school includes time in the school garden;  each class has their own garden box, they grow herbs, vegetables and get to eat the harvest.

Growing your own vegetables is only half the fun.  The second best part is eating them, and I for one am always on the look-out for more Recipes from the Garden. What about you?  Now don't you worry just follow the #ChooseDreams Pinterest board for lot's of inspiration...

Are you ready for a Garden Focaccia?  This recipe is very versatile and you can modify it according to the vegetables in season.  Today I have added some fresh asparagus, a yellow potato, onion, and garlic.;  I added rosemary from our garden to the dough.

Garden Focaccia

Dough - slightly adapted from Tylor Florence as published on Food Network 
  • 3-3/4 C flour
  • 1 Tb fresh rosemary coarsely chopped {or more if you like}
  • 2-1/4 tsp yeast
  • 2 Tb sugar
  • 1 C warm water {not hot}
  • 1 Tb salt + 2 Tb warm water {not hot}
  • 1/4 Olive Oil
  • 1/4 C medium grind Cornmeal {for rolling out the dough}
  1. Combine yeast with water and sugar.  Stir gently - after a couple of minutes
  2. Slowly add flour along with rosemary {you can either use your hands - like me; or use the kneading hook of your kitchen machine} then
  3. Dissolve salt in water and add to flour/yeast mixture along with the olive oil
  4. Knead until a smooth elastic dough forms {when kneading by hand I like to "beat" the dough down, fold on each other and knead some more - this is a good workout :)}
  5. When the dough is nice and smooth place it in a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and leave to rise at a warm spot.
  6. Dough is ready when it has doubled in size.
  7. About 30 minutes before you are ready to bake line a deeper cookie sheet with parchment paper as well as a tiny bit of olive oil
  8. Roll out your dough the size of the cookie sheet, place it on the prepared cookie sheet, cover again with plastic wrap and let rise until ready to assemble {step 3 below}

Topping - Assembly
  • 1/8 - 1/4 C Olive Oil + 1 Tb 
  •    5 garlic cloves, coarsely chooped
  •    6 slices of bacon diced {optional}
  •    1 medium yellow potato, peeled and cut into thin slices
  •    1 bunch green asparagus, cleaned and cut into bite size pieces
  •    1 medium yellow onion, sliced
  •    Salt & Pepper to taste
*** Preheat oven to 400 F ***
  1. Brush rolled out dough with 1/8 - 1/4 C olive oil {lesser amount if using bacon}
  2. Press garlic into the dough
  3. If using, spread bacon pieces on the dough
  4. Place potato slices, asparagus pieces and onion slices into a large bowl.  Toss with 1 Tb olive oil, season with salt and pepper
  5. Spread oiled potato, asparagus, and onions onto the dough
  6. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes
Serve with a large salad!


are ready for more delicious Recipes from the Garden - be sure to check them all out.

  • 3 Cheese Naan Pizza with Sausage, Mushrooms, and Arugula by Neighborfood
  • Asparagus Penne with Bacon Cream Sauce by Country Girl In The Village
  • Basil, Honey and Walnut Gelato by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
  • Chimichurri Skirt Steak by Magnolia Days
  • Garden Foccacia by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
  • Greek Stuffed Tomato by Yours And Mine Are Ours
  • Grilled Shrimp with Grilled Sweet Peppers by Daily Dish Recipes
  • Herbed Chicken Kabobs by Momma's Meals
  • Individual Indian Corn Pudding Souffles by Delaware Girl Eats
  • Lemon Herb Slow Cooker Roast Chicken by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
  • Quinoa Tabbouleh by Supper for a Steal
  • Rosemary and Lemon Chicken Thighs with Asparagus by Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
  • Rosemary Cornbread by Alida's Kitchen
  • Salmon Peppers and Onions by Family Foodie
  • Spinach Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
  • Strawberry Basil Pasta Salad by Peanut Butter and Peppers
  • Summer Pasta Puttanesca by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
  • Summer Vegetable Lasagna by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
  • Tortellini with Garden Fresh Pesto by The Foodie Army Wife
  • White Bean Cilantro Chopped Vegetable Salad by Shockingly Delicious


  • Sunday Supper Movement Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy! You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.