Strawberry Focaccia with Maple/Balsamic Carmelized Onions

Such a lovely way to say good bread! I am always looking at bread recipes and have made Focaccia breads before but when I came across this recipe from Saveur Magazine online http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Strawberry-Focaccia-with-Maple-Balsamic-Onions
I couldn't resist. What would it taste like?

Prepare to ENJOY!

SERVES 8

INGREDIENTS:

1¼ oz package dry yeast

1 cup warm water (100–110 degrees F)

1 teaspoon honey

2½ cups flour

1 teaspoons kosher salt

¼ cup plus 5 Tbs olive oil, divided

1 medium sweet onion, quartered and thinly sliced (I used a med purple onion)

2½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar

1½ teaspoons pure maple syrup

1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced lengthwise into 1/8–inch pieces

8–10 fresh basil leaves, sliced chiffonade (you remember:roll those leaves tightly and slice thinly!)

Coarse sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Combine yeast, water and honey in a medium bowl; let rest for about 5 minutes, until bubbles form on the top. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and kosher salt; set aside. Add ¼ cup of olive oil to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour wet ingredients into dry. Stir well to combine, then turn dough onto a lightly flour surface and knead until dough is smooth and supple, about 10 minutes. Form dough into a ball and place it in a bowl greased with ½ tablespoon olive oil. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let rest until the dough approximately doubles in size, about 1 hour.

2. Brush a 9x13–inch baking sheet with ½ tablespoon olive oil. Remove dough from bowl and press it into the sheet with your fingers until it touches the edges. Using your fingers, gently press indentations into the dough, all over the surface. Gently brush the dough with 2 tablespoons of olive oil; let rest, lightly covered, until it puffs up slightly, about 30 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet set over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and caramelized, 15–20 minutes. Stir in balsamic vinegar and maple syrup; let cook until liquid is evaporated, 2–3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and allow to cool slightly.

4. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly press strawberry slices into the top of the dough, then scatter onions and basil evenly across the top. *(see below) Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the top and sprinkle with sea salt to taste. Bake until the focaccia is golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before cutting into pieces. Serve drizzled with more olive oil or spread with fresh goat cheese.

* I used the strawberries on the entire loaf but stopped about 3/4 with the onion and basil as I knew 'some' would not like the combination. I put rosemary, cracked pepper, sea salt and strawberries on the final 1/4 thinking I might like that with some nutella! Which I did. Also cream cheese. YUM. I believe you will enjoy this one. We certainly did! Thank you cookbook author Leah Koenig for this tempting strawberry sensation!