The Ultimate Breadsticks Food

THE ULTIMATE BREADSTICKS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1 cup of water with sugar.
• Let stand 5 minutes.
• Add the rest of the ingredients except the butter.
• Stir into dough and knead until smooth and elastic and slightly sticky (I use a heavy- duty mixer).
• Place in greased bowl, cover and let rise until double, about 1 hour.
• Punch down. Divide dough in half.
• Roll one half dough out into a 12 x 18 inch rectangle on a floured surface.
• Brush with melted butter.
• Cut dough in half vertically, and then cut horizontally into 8 strips (16 bread sticks from one half of dough).
• Repeat this same step with other half of dough. You should have 32 bread sticks all together.
• Now at this point you can do the following variations:.
• Cheesy Bread Sticks: Press buttered side down of breadstick in freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Twist bread stick multiple times and lay out on parchment lined cookie sheets. (I do about 8 to a pan-parchment necessary so the cheese won't stick to the pan). Cover and let rise 30 minutes or until double in bulk and then bake. After baking, brush with remaining melted garlic butter.
• Garlic Butter Bread Sticks: Twist bread sticks that have already been spread with garlic butter mixture. Place on greased baking sheet and let rise 30 minutes. After baking, brush again with melted garlic butter.
• Herb & Cheese Breadsticks: Use plain melted butter to spread on dough, then sprinkle bread sticks with Parmesan cheese and Salad Supreme. Place on sprayed baking sheets and let rise 30 minutes before baking. Brush again with remaining melted butter after baking.
• Pizza Breadsticks: Let buttered bread sticks rise on parchment lined baking sheets 30 minutes. Spread with pizza sauce and place pepperoni on top. The last 5 minutes of baking add shredded cheese.
• Cinnamon Sugar Breadsticks: Dip bread sticks in 1 stick melted of butter (skip the brush with melted butter step). Roll in a mixture of 2 cups brown sugar and about 1 Tbsp cinnamon (might need more sugar mixture depending on how much you use). Twist and let rise on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake.
• *Spray pans or use parchment paper and cover lightly while rising.
• **Let bread sticks rise 30 minutes before baking.
• ***Note all bread sticks will be cooked 15 to 18 minutes at 350° or until lightly browned.

ROSEMARY AND THYME BREADSTICKS

Steps:

• Mix flour, salt and yeast in processor. Add rosemary, thyme, honey and oil. Gradually blend in enough water to bind dough together. Process until dough forms ball, about 30 seconds longer. Turn dough out onto work surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 2 minutes. Lightly oil large bowl. Add dough; turn to coat with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, then towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch down dough. Divide into 16 equal pieces. Roll each dough piece between palms and work surface into 12-inch-long by 1/2-inch-wide rope. Arrange ropes on 2 heavy large baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Let rise uncovered in warm draft-free area until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake until breadsticks are very crisp and pale golden, about 40 minutes. Transfer breadsticks to racks and cool. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

SOFT BREADSTICKS WITH FENNEL SEEDS

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer proof the yeast with the sugar in 1/4 cup lukewarm water for 5 minutes, or until it is foamy. With the paddle attachment beat in 1 cup warm water, 3 cups of the flour, the salt, the fennel seeds, and the pepper and beat the dough until it is smooth. With the dough hook of the electric mixer or by hand knead the dough, kneading in enough of the remaining 1/2 cup flour to form a smooth, elastic dough, for 10 minutes. Form the dough into a ball, put it in a well-buttered large bowl, turning it to coat it with the butter, and let it rise, covered with plastic wrap, in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it is double in bulk. Punch down the dough and, working with one small piece of dough at a time, form it into 1/4-inch-thick ropes, each about 8 inches long. Arrange the ropes on buttered baking sheets, brush them lightly with the egg wash, and bake them in batches in the upper third of a preheated 450°F. oven for 15 minutes, or until they are golden. The breadsticks may be made 1 day in advance and kept in an airtight container. Reheat the breadsticks, wrapped in foil, before serving.