Easy Focaccia Bread

I've made this bread a couple times now and it truly is easy. You can have fresh, hot bread ready for dipping into olive oil and cracked pepper or for dipping into soup in less than an hour!

Easy Focaccia Bread

INGREDIENTS:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 tablespoon active dry yeast (I used one packet and it worked fine)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
cracked black pepper
kosher salt
1 cup + 2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:
Making by hand:1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt, sugar, yeast, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, basil and a pinch of black pepper. Mix in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and water.2. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.

Making in bread maker:1. Pour water and 1 tablespoon of olive oil into bread maker pan. Add salt, sugar, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, basil and a pinch of black pepper. Make a well in the center and pour 1 tablespoon active dry yeast or bread maker yeast into it.2. Turn on the dough only cycle on your bread maker. Check the dough on the first kneading cycle to see if you need to add more water because it’s too dry or add more flour because it’s too sticky. Add sparingly until the dough is the right consistency.

For both methods:3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Punch dough down; place on greased baking sheet. Pat into a 1/2 inch thick rectangle. Make dimples on the top by pushing your fingers down into the dough. Brush top with olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, cracked black pepper, and a good pinch of Kosher salt.4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm with a side of high quality olive oil and cracked black pepper for dipping.

I found this recipe going from one blog to another and ending up here:
http://mywoodenspoon.com/2008/11/14/easy-focaccia-bread/