Friday, 3 October 2014

Bread Sticks - in about an hour!

Bread Sticks
by 


This recipe is really versatile - the dough can be used to make hot dog buns or hamburger buns or bread sticks -- cheese, or garlic - or really any flavour you want!

INGREDIENTS:
1 CUP MILK (I USE 2%)
1/2 CUP WATER
1/4 CUP UNSALTED BUTTER
4 1/2 CUP FLOUR (APROX) ( UNBLEACHED, WHOLE WHEAT, AP OR A MIX OF BOTH)
1 TEASPOON SEASONING - I USE TUSCAN SUNSET - YOU CAN USE ITALIAN
2 1/4 TEASPOON YEAST (OR ONE PACKAGE)  
1 TABLESPOON HONEY
1 1/2 TEASPOON SALT
1 EGG AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

DIRECTIONS:
Heat the milk, water, honey and butter until the butter is melted. Let cool until about 120F degrees -- warm to the touch.  Carefully beat in the egg --- I add a little of the liquid to the egg first and temper it then add the egg to the milk mixture.

Mix 2 cups of flour, the yeast and salt into the milk mixture.  Stir the rest of the flour, 1/2 cup at a time and blend well after each addition of flour until the dough pulls together into a soft ball.  knead by hand or with the dough hook on your mixer for about  minutes by machine.  You want a smooth elastic dough.

For bread sticks - roll the dough into a rectangle shape and about 1/4 inch thick - using a pizza cutter- cut in half horizontally and then in the opposite direction into bite size sticks.
Cover with plastic wrap and a light tea towel for about 30 -35 minutes.

When the oven is heating up -to 400 degrees (bake for 10 -12 minutes)

Melt about 1/4 cup of butter and add some garlic powder to your liking - we use almost 1 tablespoon
I also add some more seasoning to this.  Brush it on the bread sticks and bake.  Once it is out of the over - brush it again and enjoy!!

NOTE:
  1. IF YOU ARE MAKING BUNS - DO NOT ROLL OUT - JUST DIVIDE THE DOUGH INTO EVEN PIECES (12-16) BUNS  AND PRESS SLIGHTLY DOWN ON EACH ONE.  YOU CAN ADD ONIONS SOUP MIX TO MAKE ONION BUNS INSTEAD OF SEASONING.  LET RISE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AND BAKE THE SAME WAY.  
  2. YOU CAN ALSO BRUSH THE TOPS WITH EGG WASH AND SPRINKLE WITH POPPY SEEDS, SESAME SEEDS, COARSE SEA SALT OR WHAT EVER YOU LIKE
  3. FOR HOT DOG BUNS - ROLL THE DOUGH  INTO THE RECTANGLE( A LITTLE LESS THEN 1/2 INCH) AND CUT INTO SMALLER RECTANGLE PIECES  AND LET RISE WITH THE SIDES TOUCHING

PRODUCTS USED:
PIXIE CHICKS - TUSCAN SUNSET