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My Hubby's Made From Scratch Focaccia Bread & A Giveaway!

As you all know from time to time I will feature one of my or my husband's favorite recipes.  If you've followed for some time you have probably figured out that we are both foodies and LOVE to eat great food.  Several years ago following a car accident in which I shattered my arm rendering it totally immobile for several months and practically useless for almost a year, Shawn found himself learning a lot of new things such as how to do our young daughters pony tails, waking up early in the morning to get the kids off to school...a true shock to his system, house cleaning and last but not least, cooking for eight.  He has always been the traditional "grill guy" but everyday cooking was something new to him to say the least.  Much to our six kids and my liking, he absolutely fell in love with it.  


 Shawn discovered a natural inclination to great cooking and that making delicious food is relatively easy.   Anymore it is he who cooks and meal plans most of the time.  I still like to cook, but I gotta say that I like being cooked for even better, especially when I know it's Shawn doing the cooking.    Mexican, Italian, American, German, even a delicious traditional Irish stew...  But our favorites have to be his traditional Italian dishes & breads... which leads me to why I'm doing this post.

When friends and family come to eat at our house they constantly tell him that he should open a restaurant.  Shawn's sister, Kym, finally convinced him to at least sell his Focaccia bread.  It is absolutely delicious and has met locally with success.  Every sale he's gotten has been solely by word of mouth... those are the best kind of sales!  I asked him to take it to the next level and offer these fabulous breads in an Etsy shop, TheBistro2Go, which he has just opened with his sister, who makes some incredible cheeses (pictured below with some of Shawn's Focaccia and grapes, on a transfer ware dish of course, ...the only thing missing is a glass of wine).

  

Focaccia is a flat oven-baked Italian bread, which may be topped with herbs or other ingredients.  It's remotely related to the pizza family, but not considered to be the same.


Focaccia is quite popular in Italy and is usually seasoned with olive oil and sometimes herbs, and may be topped with onion, cheese and meat, or flavored with a number of vegetables.  However, by far the most typical focaccia is simply baked dough topped with olive oil and a simple herb like rosemary or sage and salted with coarse salt.  It is very popular as a snack in Italy and school children will often purchase a slice from a baker on the way to school to enjoy at break time.


My favorite Focaccia that Shawn makes is one he refers to as Herbalicious.  He starts with dough made from scratch and then infuses extra virgin olive oil plus three herbs (Oregano, Basil & Thyme) into the dough.  Just before hitting the oven he covers the top with more brushed-on olive oil, coarse salt, freshly grated Parmesan cheese (you can also order it with Romano or Asiago as well), a generous layer of Mozzarella cheese and caramelized onion bits.
 I asked Shawn to make these adorable, single serving Focaccia bread squares.  I think they are so cute and are a great size for snacks or holiday entertaining!


Shawn also makes his Focaccia in 9" squares.  Equally delish!

Smelling it bake is absolute torture.  The herbs are so aromatic and the smell of bread baking is irresistible.  







To help jump start online sales, Shawn is offering one of my readers either 3 loaves or 24 single serve squares Focaccia bread ...your choice of flavors & toppings.  He will make these fresh to order, and ship Priority right away.  These freeze beautifully, in case you're wondering.


To enter this giveaway all you need to do is:


1)  Visit The Bistro 2 Go and tell me what bread selection you'd choose  (you can convo Shawn about any custom flavors you might desire... I know he'll be adding a jalapeno cheddar soon!)

2) If you're a follower of my blog leave another comment for an additional entry, or feel free to become a follower and leave an entry. 

3) Facebook or Tweet about the giveaway, and leave another comment along with the link 

I'll announce the winner next week!
I'm currently having another French Pillow Giveaway...click HERE to enter.




 

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday,
Finer Things Friday,
Funky Junk Interiors
Food On Fridays, hosted by Ann Kroeker
Tatertots & Jello 
HOH
Seasonal Sunday 
Marketplace Monday

Comments

  1. Love the mozzerella with rosemary and garlic! Of course the asiago sounds awesome too! Those pictures have me completely drooling! Thanks!

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  2. I'll take one of each please. They all look and sound sooooo good. I think my first choice would be the mozzerella with rosemary and garlic. Now I am hungry!

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  3. I am a follower and have been for quite a while. Always enjoy your blog!

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  4. I would like to try the 3 herbalicous focaccia bread with asiago. I would love to see rosemary and feta.
    twoofakind12@Yahoo.com

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  5. Oh my goodness! They all look di-vine! I think I would have to choose the mozzarella with fresh ground pepper. I have to tell you I am so jealous of women with husbands who cook. You lucky gal!

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  6. As a spice lover I have to say my favorite is the Fresh Mozzarella Cheese with Paprika and Chili Powder. Thanks for the giveaway!

    onehotstove AT gmail DOT com

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  7. I'd love to try the herbalicious focaccia. I'm current drooling on the keyboard!

    Jemr2@aol dot com

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  8. Yum yum! I would love to try the Herbalicious Focaccia Bread 8" Rounds with Parmesan! I would also love to see an olive oil and tomato flavor, or maybe guanciale with parmesan?
    Thank you for the giveaway :)
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. I follow your blog with google friend connect
    Thank you for the giveaway :)
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. Looks so yummy, I would like 3 Herbalicious Focaccia Bread 8" Rounds with Choice of Parmesan, Ramano or Asiago Cheese Topping.
    sonflower277(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. Fresh Mozzarella Cheese with Rosemary and Garlic. Yummy!

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  12. I'm a follower. Something will cumin gouda will taste good as well for sure!
    ghainskom at yahoo dot com

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  13. The herbalicous focaccia bread with asiago sounds good.
    emilynwins[atgmaildotcom]

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  14. Fresh Mozzarella Cheese with Fresh Cracked Black Pepper sounds divine.

    cabootique[at]live[dot]com

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  15. I would love to win the erbalicious Focaccia with Asiago Cheese!

    dothetwist(at)live(dot)ca

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  16. I am a follower of your blog through GFC.

    dothetwist(at)live(dot)ca

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  17. I would really like Fresh Mozzarella Cheese with Rosemary and Lavender : D

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  18. Nancy, each of these offerings looks delicious. I'd take the individual focaccia squares though. They would be perfect for a party. Great idea to market these. ~ Sarah

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  19. Nancy, I am indeed a follower! ;-)
    ~ Sarah

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  20. I'd pick Herbalicious with Asiago...yum!

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  21. I would pick the herbalicious bread!

    Hazel

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  22. Square or round, I'd love the Herbalicious.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  23. The Herbalicious Focaccia with asiago cheese is my pick!

    marija.majerle at gmail dot com

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  24. It would be hard to pick which cheese, I'd probably get a loaf with each different cheese, that way I could sample the different cheeses and find out which is my favorite, so far I think I'd be drawn towards the asiago, I think he should have an italian blend with all of them on one, I think that would taste really good! Thanks for the chance into this giveaway.

    unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail.com

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  25. WOW! the pics here look DELICIOUS! I gotta try the 24 individual small bites with parmesan! They have GOT to be DIVINE!

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  26. I am also a follower of this blog!!

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  27. Such a difficult choice when everything is sinfully delicious! I'd go for the Rosemary and Garlic, yummy! Thanks for the chance

    yumihamano at gmail dot com

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  28. Great post,yummy pictures and lucky lady! :)
    I would like to try the 3 Herbalicious Focaccia Bread with Mozzarella and Parmesan.
    Thanks!

    cyclona66 at aol dot com

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  29. blog follower(Ginger)

    cyclona66 at aol dot com

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  30. I found you from Designs by Gollum and wow! I am glad I did. Those pictures! I think I can smell the bread here in my room ..... :)

    I would choose the mozzerella with rosemary and garlic. Thank you for including me and I wish you the best for the holiday season!

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  31. the 24 Individual 2.5" Focaccia Bread Squares with Choice of Cheese Topping Parmesan, Romano or Asiago looks tempting I want to try it

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  32. I'm a GFC follower :)

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  33. The herbalicous focaccia bread with asiago looks great. It would be awesome to have some rosemary or kalamata olives as one of the choices.

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  34. I' hungry after looking at these
    Herbalicious Focaccia Bread Asiago Cheese Topping would be great!
    sarahdottennysonatgmaildotcom

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  35. I'd love the mozzarella with fresh gorund pepper!!

    www.clothedmuch.com

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  36. I would love to try the mozzarella with rosemary and garlic. I love bread and this looks sooo good!

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  37. 3 herbalicious foia sounds delish! jmmccarr@gmail.com

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  38. I love foccacia! but would he be able to make a dairy-free one? my family doesn't do dairy! lovely pictures though! herbalicious without cheese would be great!

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  39. Yum! The mozzarella cheese with cracked black pepper immediately caught my eye.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    --Liza

    ejm6x (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  40. I would love to try (1)olive oil and tomato flavor (2) Herbalicious Focaccia Bread 8" Rounds with Parmesan and the guanciale with parmesan. But in all honesty, I'd love to try any of them you'd like to send me. They all sound absolutely wonderful.

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  41. luv to try the Fresh Mozzarella Cheese with Rosemary and Garlic bread.

    swiener1[at]tampabay.rr.com

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  42. I would love to try the herbalicious focaccia 9 inch square with parmesan cheese
    jesage@asu.edu

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  43. They all sound so good and I bet they smell yummy too!!

    Happy Holidays!!
    Suzann

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  44. oh my. the mozzarella with pepper sounds amazing. I'm so hungry now.

    Luckycldh(at)aol(dot)com
    Cerena-Leigh

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  45. Gosh, lot of things i adore, but this one is the faviest http://www.etsy.com/listing/63569900/24-individual-25-focaccia-bread-squares

    Much Thankies for the chance dear
    Good luck for me and everyone :)

    liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  46. Gosh ! I am so excited with this giveaway. I would like to participate in it.
    Anw i am totally follower through Google Friend Connect name liz.

    Much Thankies for the chance dear
    Good luck for me and everyone :)

    liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  47. Oh my everythin looks unbelievably delicious. can i have one of each?

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  48. i'm following you in iGoogle reader

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  49. asagio! my favorite cheese :) rosiebud 63 at hotmail dot com

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  50. I would love the Focaccia Bread 8" Rounds with Asiago Cheese Topping. Thank you!
    bridgestranslation at yahoo dot com

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  51. It all looks so wonderful! I think we would love the Herbalicious. hmmmmm! I wish I lived close enough to pick up some of the mozzarella with rosemary and lavender...I've never heard of such a beautiful thing!


    Deborah in NC

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  52. I'm sure you hear this a lot from your blog readers, but does your husband have a brother? That can bake like he does? The bread selection I would choose from the shop would be the 3 Herbalicious Focaccia 9" Square Loaves with your Choice of Fresh Parmesan, Ramano or Asiago Cheese Topping.
    the_outsider01AThotmailDOTcom

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  53. I would get the bread squares with asiago. ONly thing I would customize would be to add garlic. Yum!


    giveawaymommy at yahoo dot com

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  54. I am a gfc follower (melissa R)


    giveawaymommy at yahoo dot com

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  55. Wow! That herbalicious looks delicious! :-)

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  56. Asiago topped bread! YUMMMM!


    alexiska39 at yahoo.com

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  57. I'm a follower!

    alexiska39 at yahoo.com

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  58. Herbalicious Focaccia Bread, DEFINITELY DEFINITELY! Your husband can also try spicing up plain garlic bread (I SIMPLY ADORE GARLIC BREAD!) like.. Perhaps try adding cheese to it? Experimenting should be real fun. (:

    Good luck!

    chooclates_smiles at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  59. These look so delicious! Mozzarella with rosemary & garlic sound super amazing. I love anything with rosemary.

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    lirpaskoorb@gmail.com

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  60. I follow you with GFC. lirpaskoorb@gmail.com

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  61. My mouth was watering as I read this post! I think the Jalepeno Cheddar flavor will be amaaaazing. And the single servings are so cute!! Perfect for entertaining!

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  62. The Mozzarella with rosemary and galic sounds sooo good! All this talk about yummy bread is making me hungry!
    katiecan86@yahoo.com

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  63. I'm a follower! I think your blog is amazing :)

    katiecan86@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

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