Bread Sticks
3 cups all purpose flour — plus more if needed
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1 package active dry yeast (1/4 ounce — 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 cup very warm water (about 120 degrees F)
2 tablespoons olive oil — divided
1. In a large bowl, combine the flour & salt; set aside. In a small bowl dissolve the sugar & yeast in the water. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the water, then add to flour. mix with your hands until a soft ball forms. ~I use a Kitchen Aid for a variety of reasons, the primary reason is cos it’s fast & easy~
2. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 5 to 7 minutes. ~I use corn meal~ until the dough is smooth & elastic. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time
3. Place the dough in a bowl that has been coated with nonstick vegetable spray. turn the dough. Cover with plastic wrap & allow to rise at room temperature for 45 to 50 minutes, until doubled in size. ~at this point turn your oven down to 425 degrees & _carefully_ add more water if necessary - at this point I’ll shape them - I roll them in the corn meal & place them on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with something like Pam. I have also rolled them in grated Parmesan cheese (you know, the stuff in the jar) for a different flavor. I allow them to rise (they seem to fairly quickly for me) for about 20 minutes, bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees or until browned on the top~
4. Punch the dough down.
5. Coat a 12 inch deep-dish pizza pan or a 12 inch round cake pan with nonstick vegetable spray. using your fingertips or the heel of your hand, spread the dough so that it covers the bottom of the pan & dough comes three quarters of the way up the sides. ~when I use this recipe to make pizza, I roll it out - it rolls out wonderfully~
6. Cover with plastic wrap & let sit for 10 minutes
7. Uncover & brush with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil
I then bake it at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, fill it with pizza fixings & return it to the oven til the cheese melts or browns, depends on who the pizza is for - about 10-15 minutes…