A six-ingredient recipe that relies on pantry staples

Sad desk lunches, no more! If you have flour and yeast in your pantry, you have a delicious and simple lunch awaiting you: Focaccia. 

Focaccia is a delightful Italian bread that’s famous for its soft, chewy texture and its deliciously savory flavor. It’s often infused with olive oil, which gives it a rich taste and a slightly crispy crust. The dough is typically seasoned with herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano, along with a sprinkle of coarse salt that adds a nice contrast to the bread’s overall flavor profile. Focaccia can be enjoyed on its own, as a side to soups and salads, or even used as a base for sandwiches or pizza. 

Rather than more complicated yeast dough recipes, focaccia comes together easily and only requires a little bit of forethought.

Give it a try for this week’s lunch and pair it alongside a lightly dressed salad. 

Simple Focaccia Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 ⅛ tsp instant yeast
• ½ tsp granulated sugar
• Olive Oil
• Optional herb additions (one or all):

  • 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped (or ½ tsp dried)
  • 1 tsp fresh parsley chopped (or ½ tsp dried)
  • ½ tsp fresh thyme leaves (or ½ tsp dried)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.
2. In a glass measuring cup or small bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and sugar and allow to sit until bubbly (usually 5 minutes).
3. Add the yeast mixture to the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until a rough dough forms.
4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a reusable beeswax wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight.
5. Remove the bowl from the fridge.
6. Oil an 8-inch round cake pan, cast iron skillet, or small baking sheet and place the dough in.
7. Cover with plastic wrap or a reusable beeswax wrap and let sit at room temperature for 2 hours.
8. Preheat the oven to 450-degrees.
9. Remove the cover from the pan—you should see that the dough has risen and fills the pan.
10. Drizzle the dough with oil and use your fingers to press into the dough, leaving little wells in the dough as you go.
11. Sprinkle with herbs (if using) and additional salt.
12. Add pan or skillet to the oven, turn the heat down to 425-degrees, and bake for 22 to 25 minutes until golden brown.

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Temperatures Are Heating Up, So Cool Your Kitchen Down

We’ve already had a few 80-degree days this spring, which has us itching to be outside and not standing in front of a hot stove preparing supper. Here are four low-cook or no-cook recipes that can be assembled quickly, packaged to go for a picnic, and enjoyed outside or in the comfort of your air conditioned home.

Protein Smoothie

Start your day off with a Protein Smoothie recipe from Millie’s Living Cafe. Packed with protein and naturally sweetened from the bananas and blueberries, it’s a morning wake-up that will keep you full—no scrambling of eggs required.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup blueberries
• ¾ cup bananas
• 1 tbsp almond butter
• 1 scoop protein powder(i.e. Garden Of Life Vanilla Plant Protein)
• 1 ¼ cup cashew or almond milk

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

Fresh Catch Summer Salad
Enjoy summertime on a plate with this refreshing, sweet, and delicious salad. Be sure to visit Marsh Roots Seafood, local fishmonger, for the freshest catch for this recipe!

Ingredients:

Fish:

• 1-2 lbs. fileted fish (black bass, speckled trout, etc.)
• 1 oz. Key West Blend Seasoning (available at Marsh Roots Seafood)
• 2 tbsp. Butter
• 1 lemon slice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Salad:

• 1 bag of spring mix
• 1 bag of arugula
• 1 pint strawberries, sliced
• 4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup candied pecans, crushed
• Sunflower sprouts or your favorite microgreens

Dressing:

• ⅔ cup olive oil
• 3 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 shallot, finely diced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Grab your favorite fish filet from your favorite local seafood market (Read: Marsh Roots Seafood Company). Rinse and pat dry—always make sure while patting dry to feel for bones along the spine of the filet and remove if necessary.
2. Once patted down, coat evenly with Key West seasoning and salt and pepper on both sides. Drizzle with olive oil. Slice butter and lemon. Add butter directly onto the filet and then add lemon slices. 
3. Wrap in foil and cook in the oven at 350º for 20-25 minutes or on the grill. You can also pan roast in a cast iron pan on the stove top with a little olive oil to avoid the filet sticking to the pan.
4. While the fish is cooking, make your dressing by adding the dressing ingredients to a bowl or mason jar. (We always do this in case there is any left over, then just cap and throw it in the fridge. Ready to pour on tomorrow’s salad!) 
5. Once added, whisk together well and add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
6. Assemble your salad with your bed of fresh greens, sliced strawberries, goat cheese, and crushed candied pecans. Add the fish filets and pour the dressing.

Salami and Cheese Bites
This no-cook, 4 ingredient snack is wonderful when you’re craving something special but only have a few minutes to prep. Creamy, smokey gouda is stacked on a toothpick with savory salami, marinated artichoke hearts, and just a bit of fresh, herbaceous basil. This recipe is great sharing with friends, or for an impromptu cocktail hour served with your favorite fancy drink!

Ingredients: 

• 8 oz. smoked gouda cheese
• 6 oz. quartered marinated artichoke hearts, drained
• 12 slices thinly sliced salami
• Fresh basil leaves
• Black pepper

Directions:

1. Cut away any wax rind on the cheese and cut the block into bite sized cubes, about ½ inch each.
2. Skewer a basil leaf and artichoke heart onto a toothpick. Fold a piece of salami twice, then skewer the salami onto the toothpick. Last, skewer the cheese on the toothpick. Repeat until all ingredients are used.
3. Sprinkle lightly with black pepper and serve.

Notes:

For even more flavor in each bite, add a small slice of sun-dried tomato. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Stone Fruit Caprese and Grilled Chicken

This recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and savory. It’s a lovely gluten free dinner for summertime!

Ingredients:

Balsamic Chicken Breasts

• 1.5 lb chicken breasts
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Caprese Toppings

• 4 apriums
• 1 small bunch fresh basil
• 4 ounces prosciutto
• 4 ounces mozzarella cheese (either buy mozzarella pearls or slice into bite sized pieces)
• 2 Tablespoons balsamic reduction or use balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Prepare the Chicken

1. Preheat your grill to medium, about 375F. Trim the chicken breasts and gently pound them to a uniform thickness.
2. Whisk the oil and vinegar together and drizzle over the chicken breasts in a rimmed dish. Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning and cover. Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes.
3. Brush the grill with a little oil and lay the chicken breasts with space between them on the grill. Cook for about 5 minutes, turn, and cook for another 5 minutes or until cooked through.

Do the Prep Work

1. Meanwhile, wash and dice the apriums. Slice the basil. Get the prosciutto, balsamic reduction and mozzarella cheese out of the fridge.

Assemble & Serve

1. Arrange the cooked chicken breasts on a large platter and top with the diced apriums, mozzarella pearls, slices of prosciutto, and fresh basil. Drizzle the balsamic reduction and season lightly with salt and pepper. Serve immediately. 

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and now is the time to start planning a unique, locally focused day to help any mother in your life feel the most celebrated. Here are four ways to celebrate mom this year right in our own backyard.

Picnic at Peaks of Otter
Take your mom for a scenic drive to Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Pack a delicious picnic with her favorite foods, enjoy the stunning views of the mountains, or take a leisurely hike together.

The Peaks of Otter Picnic Area offers 58 picnic tables and grills scattered along a half mile of Little Stony Creek. The picnic sites range from small, cozy tables alongside the creek to large expansive sites perfect for a larger crowd.

Many of the sites have a charcoal grill for you to prepare your mom’s favorite cookout foods. All tables and sites are available on a first come, first served basis. The Peaks of Otter Picnic Area is an open-air area with no covered tables or seating during inclement weather. The picnic area is open seasonally starting in May—just in time for Mother’s Day.

There are a number of hikes around the area, ranging from the stunning and strenuous Sharp Top hike to an easy and meandering stroll around Abbott Lake.

Artistic Workshop
Enroll in an art workshop together at the Academy Center of the Arts. They often offer one-day workshops where you can learn a new artistic skill like painting, pottery, or jewelry making.

Upcoming classes include a highly-anticipated Lego Architecture Workshop, Pottery Basics, Summer Palette Painting, and more. 

Historical Tour
Explore Lynchburg’s rich history with a self-guided or staff-guided tour of historic sites like the Old City Cemetery or the Lynchburg Museum. Many tours offer fascinating insights into the city’s past.

Old City Cemetery is an extraordinary 27-acre public garden and history park. Despite being an active place of burial and remembrance, it is one of the busiest and most popular attractions in the City. 

Established in 1806, Old City Cemetery is the oldest municipal cemetery in Virginia still in use today. A village of five small museums helps to tell the stories of the diverse population of nearly 20,000 buried here. The grounds are also filled with hundreds of varieties of native and heirloom plants, including the largest public collection of antique roses in the state of Virginia. Their gates are open dawn to dusk, every day of the year.

The Lynchburg Museum System manages the official history museums and archives of the City of Lynchburg. The Museum System is responsible for operating two museums: the Lynchburg Museum at the Old Court House and Point of Honor, the historic site on Daniel’s Hill. These museums care for over 40,000 artifacts and share the diverse stories of three centuries of local history.

Or, opt for a Curious History Walking Tour, an hour-long journey into the depths of the city of the Seven Hills. Tour guests have the option to attend a public tour; a private tour, where groups can bring their friends and family; or even create a custom experience such as hiring a performer to host a personal event or enjoy a custom tour/experience created for a business.

Gourmet Cooking Class
Sign up for a gourmet cooking class in the Flour District’s Teaching Kitchen. Classes include pasta making, baking skills, culinary basics, wine tasting events, and much more. Classes are taught by local industry professionals, who are experts in their field. 

Upcoming classes include cupcake decorating, ravioli making, pizza making, and baking 101. Registration usually fills up quickly, so peruse the available classes soon to secure a class in time for Mother’s Day. Private classes are also available.