#199: Olive Garden Breadsticks

Brian (and the girls for that matter!) loves Olive Garden breadsticks!  So when I came across this recipe I knew I had to try and make it for him.  (Love him!) 

This doesn't taste exactly like Olive Garden (you could taste the yeast a little too much), but I was so afraid these wouldn't rise, I MIGHT have added a little extra yeast.  :)  Here's a caution: if you go to take a nap, when you wake up several hours later, your breadsticks will be puffy and stuck together...so spread them out on your cookie sheet!!

These were good!  Brian proclaimed, "These DO taste like Olive Garden."  Success!!
Ingredients

2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm
water (105 to 115 degrees F)
16 ounces bread flour (3 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened

On top:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt (I used garlic powder)


Cooking Directions
Dissolve the sugar and yeast in the warm water in a small bowl or measuring cup and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, or until it becomes foamy on top.


Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Use the paddle attachment on a stand mixer to mix the softened butter into the flour. If you don't have a stand mixer, use a mixing spoon
to combine the butter with the flour. When the yeast mixture is foamy, pour it into the flour mixture and use a dough hook on your mixture to combine the ingredients and knead the dough for approximately 10 minutes. If you don't have a stand mixer, combine the ingredients and then knead the dough by hand on a countertop for 10 minutes.

Place the dough in a covered container and let it sit for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until it doubles in size. When the dough has doubled, measure out 2-ounce portions and roll the dough between your hands or on a countertop to form sticks that are 7 inches long. Place the dough on parchment paper-lined baking sheets, cover and set aside for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the dough doubles in size once again.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake the breadsticks for 12 minutes, or until golden brown. When the breadsticks come out of the oven, immediately brush each one with melted butter and sprinkle with a little garlic salt. Makes 12-13 breadsticks.  (We got about 16 out of ours...and I measured them...they were all exactly 2 oz!)