Captured Time Books

I am a regular follower of Jenmenke.com and she posted this Ciabatta  recipe WAY back in April and even has a VIDEO-  So if you can't make this bread you just don't want to.  Also, why would you not want to make this bread?  Search your soul and get back to me.   I had  a ton of flour left over because I decided to make these Avocado and melted Swiss on Salsa bread sandwiches- from the book  Beautiful Breads and Fabulous Fillings.
Yeah now that was a trip.  SUPER delicious and a HUGE undertaking. Good thing I had great company both physical and liquid -aka Megan and Jon and Miller Lite tall-boys; since we were all up till 3 AM.    Here is a blog that did a great job detailing the whole sandwich preparation with lovely photos too boot!

Here is my one photo (nice close up of the bread / sandwich - No?)  - its a better photo of my friends from Richfield and her adorable son.

Back to the Beautiful Ciabatta bread.  I also neglected to take photos of the warm delicious full loaves as they came out of the oven- Bad Blogger -  But I did take photos of the scrumptious bread sliced and grilled ready for bruschetta!
 
Here are the measurements for Jen's bread if you are not a super cool volume baker like her and Alton Brown.  (The scale is STILL on my amazon wish list - *suggestive cough*) 

I used AP flour (shhh don't tell her)
Flour 3 1/2 cups + 2 Tablespoons
2 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon of yeast

Then add 2-1/2 cups+ 2 teaspoons of tepid water
*Use my measurements as a cheat sheet whilst reading her blog AND watching the video.  -That's how I did it anyway.  Also for you math peeps who will tell me that my conversions suck-save your breath.  I have failed at conversions since 8th grade math with Mr. Peterson so nothing can save me now.  AND the bread was delicious.  Now, on to my contribution on how to improve on the bread that sincerely only needs butter to be eaten with wild abandon.

Rachel & Megan's Fresh Tomato Bruschetta -

3 large Tomatoes - diced and seeded.
2 cloves of garlic minced- (I cheat and use Trader Joe's cubes)
12 leaves Fresh Basil Minced
2 teaspoons Olive oil 
Sea Salt / Black pepper - to taste

Add it to the Ciabatta and you get this!
Also if you are like me and just can't stop messing with things- Add a hefty shaving of  Pecorino Romano cheese to the party and you have THIS! - A happy couple, crispy chewy ciabatta with fresh garlicky bruschetta.
I know the color is weird but -that is the best I could do.  (The new camera is also on the Amazon wish list.)

Note for sharing with folk's who have Minnesota mild pallets.  When I gave this our father;  I dropped it off like a silent but generous elf on his buffet at lunchtime- He reported to be too garlicky.