Christmas Tree Focaccia

For the dough

Transfer the flour in a bowl.

Take a glass and start mixing the water with the yeast, a bit of sugar and 2 spoons of flour until you notice some foam on the surface. This means that the yeast has been activated and the mixture can be added to the flour.

Remember the sugar helps the process of activation of the yeast while the salt stops it and that's why we add the salt only afterwards.

Continue adding water until the dough becomes elastic and sticky. The focaccia dough is not like pizza dough and it should have a much softer consistency, a bit like mozzarella cheese. Add the salt at the end.

Let the dough raise in the bowl wrapped in a towel. I like to place mine in the switched off oven for about 2 hours.

Once the 2 hours have passed, take a round or rectangular baking tray and pour some extra virgin olive oil so that tray is all well covered.

Transfer the dough on the tray and flatten it with your hands in order to occupy the whole surface.

Cover it with a towel again and allow to rest for another 30 minutes.

For the decoration

Prepare all your toppings.

Cut out a tree trunk shape from the courgette. Then cut the remaining courgette into strips. Cut the green pepper in thin strips too. These will be used to make the tree brunches.

Use a star cutter to make stars from a yellow and red pepper.

Cut 4 small squares out of the yellow pepper and 2 strips from the red pepper to make a gift. Use courgette strips softened with hot water for the ribbon on the gift. Red pepper for the body of Santa, courgette for its face and beard.

Assemble all the elements on a cutting board ready to be transferred on the focaccia.

Add extra oil on the focaccia and pinch it to create holes. Create your Christmas tree on the focaccia, then bake in the oven at 200 degrees for about 20/25 minutes.

Enjoy & Merry Christmas!