Lucid

Pumpkin-Walnut Focaccia with Gruyère

*Adapted from: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001108231

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons rapid-rising dry yeast
3/4 cup hard cider (room tempature)

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

3 1/2 to 4 cups flour

1 tablespoon coarse salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup olive oil
Cornmeal, for dusting

3/4 cup (3 ounces) grated Gruyère cheese, divided

1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions:

In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook, proof the yeast by combining it with the warm cider and sugar. Stir gently to dissolve. Let stand 3 minutes until foam appears. Turn mixer on low and slowly add the flour to the bowl. Dissolve salt in 2 tablespoons of water and add it to the mixture. Pour in olive oil, half of cheese, pumpkin and nutmeg . When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium. Stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Mix until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary.

Turn the dough out onto a work surface and fold over itself a few times. Form the dough into a round and place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat the entire ball with oil so it doesn't form a skin. Cover with plastic wrap or damp towel and let rise over a gas pilot light on the stovetop or other warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Coat a sheet pan with a little olive oil and corn meal. Once the dough is doubled and domed, turn it out onto the counter. Roll and stretch the dough out to an oblong shape about 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle remaining cheese and nuts evenly over dough circles; press lightly to adhere. Lightly coat dough circles with cooking spray; Lay the flattened dough on the pan and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Uncover dough; bake at 400° for 20-30 minutes or until loaves are browned on the bottom and cheese melts (shield loaves with foil to prevent overbrowning, if necessary). Cool on a wire rack.