THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 15, 1994 TAG: 9409160747
SECTION: FLAVOR PAGE: F1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Morsels
SOURCE: Ruth Fantasia
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
FOCACCIA IS TO Italian cuisine what corn bread is to Southern food - a wholesome, folksy kind of flat bread that makes a hearty accompaniment to most any meal.
Fortunately, you don't have to spend hours in the kitchen anymore to have focaccia.
Cole's Quality Foods of Muskegon, Mich., has introduced frozen focacciacq. Just thaw, heat and eat.
We tested both the traditional and the herb-and-cheese versions and found Cole's to be just as good as the focaccia sold in some area Italian restaurants. It's flavorful and dense without being heavy.
Although it has a rich taste, there are only 1 1/2 grams of fat and 130 calories in a serving of the plain version. The herb and cheese focaccia is a bit higher at 3 grams of fat and 140 calories.
Focaccia is a versatile bread. You can stuff it for sandwiches or top it like a pizza. Spread a little olive oil on top and add some rosemary or roasted red peppers.
Cole's focaccia, however, is not inexpensive, however. At $2.29 to $2.79 for a single pan, it's a bit more pricey than a loaf of crusty Italian from the bakery department. But it's an easy way to add something a different to dinner. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo ilustration
by CNB