Garlic Butter Breadsticks

The inevitable has happened. I don't fit in about 3 pairs of my jeans right now. After I got married, I wanted to make up for all those times I said no to carbs or a dessert by saying yes to everything. You would think this would make me rethink my eating habits, but It hasn't. In fact, I was craving pasta all day and couldn't wait to go home and make myself a huge bowl of it. Whenever I do eat pasta, it doesn't seem right without bread. 

These breadsticks are the perfect when it comes to soaking up all that extra sauce. I will literally scoop pasta up with the breadsticks like a fork and eat them together. Carbs on carbs.

These are best served right out of the oven, but are not bad when reheated. Just like a lot of my other recipes, these can also be frozen and reheated in the oven. 

RECIPE

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoon warm water (110 degrees F)
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
• 1 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 
• 3 cups bread flour

TOPPING

• 2 tablespoon butter
• 4 garlic cloves, minced 
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

DIRECTIONS

1. In your stand mixer bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes
2. Add in your melted butter, salt, and Italian seasoning and whisk together
3. With your paddle attachment, turn your mixer on low and slowly add your bread flour and mix until your dough comes together
4. Place your dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it sit in a warm place for 1 hour or until it doubles in size. If you don't have a warm place by a window in your house, stick it in the oven with the light on. 
5. Lightly flour your work station with some bread flour and shape your dough into a small rectangle. 
6. Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each piece into a 7-8 inch breadstick log. Place on a greased baking sheet. 
7. Cover your baking sheet with a tea towel and let the breadsticks rise for another hour in a warm place
8. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and then melt your butter in a bowl. Add your garlic into it. Brush each breadstick with your garlic butter and sprinkle on the Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately! If you want, you can brush even more garlic butter on top after you remove them from the oven.