Olive Garden Breadsticks

These breadsticks are delicious. One time Mom and Dad were on a trip, and we had three in the freezer to eat with dinner. Damon went and ate all three as a snack. Elena and I were not happy! Today he helped make them...but he only got his fair share tonight.

When I was small, I didn't really get what all the fuss about Olive Garden was. Then one day at Olive Garden, I suddenly was in love! The fettucine alfredo, zupa toscana, and—of course—the breadsticks, are my favorites. And all of them I can make at home!

Considering there's no Olive Garden in Russia, I'll be deprived for two years—so it's a very good thing I don't have to fly 9 hours to get their food. These breadsticks are slightly more dense than the originals, but every bit as good and garlicky.

I only make these breadsticks occasionally, as they go with Italian food in my mind. Tonight is Christmas Eve, and we had an Olive Garden-themed meal: zupa toscana and breadsticks. It hit the spot.

Olive Garden Breadsticks

Total time: 2 hours

Makes 10-15

Ingredients:

Breadsticks:

1 1/2 cups warm water (between 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit)

1 package or 2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted

2 Tbs. sugar

1 Tbs. salt

Topping:

4 Tbs. unsalted butter

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water and allow to sit for 10 minutes, covered. Mixture should be frothy.

2. In separate bowl, combine flour and salt.

3. Add to yeast mixture. Add melted butter. Mix with paddle attachment of stand mixer or wooden spoon until fully combined.

4. Knead dough for a few minutes just until dough is smooth. Do not overknead!

5. Grease a cookie sheet. Pull off pieces of dough and roll out into strips.

6. Cover the dough and let sit in a warm place for 45 minutes to an hour.

7. Preheat your oven to 400ºF and once heated, pop in the bread sticks for 6-7 minutes. Combine topping ingredients in a microwave. Brush breadsticks with half the mixture. Bake for 10-15 more minutes then spread on the rest of the topping.

Recipe adapted from: http://fullbellies.blogspot.ru/2011/05/HOMEMADE-OLIVE-GARDEN-BREAD-STICKS.HTML

Crazy Bread

I love crazy bread from Little Caesar's, it's so yummy! Of course, in Russia there's no Little Caesar's to get crazy bread from, so we have to make it ourselves (which actually isn't hard). This copy cat recipe doesn't taste exactly like Little Caesar's crazy bread, but it does taste good. We always use homemade pizza dough, and estimate the amounts, so feel free to change the recipe to taste!

Copy Cat Little Caesar's Crazy Bread

Ingredients:

one ten-ounce tube Pillsbury pizza dough (or use any other pizza dough)

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter

1 teaspoon garlic salt (if unavailable, combine garlic powder and salt)

grated parmesan cheese for topping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425ºF (if using homemade pizza dough, the temperature you would cook your pizza at).

Unroll dough onto cutting board (roll homemade pizza dough about 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick). Cut dough into desired sized pieces.

Being careful not to stretch the dough, place the crazy bread on a lightly greased baking sheet, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until your dough is completely cooked but still soft, and the tops are golden brown.

While the bread is baking, melt the butter in the microwave or on the stove. Then add garlic salt and stir until it dissolves.

Remove the browned crazy bread from the oven and brush the butter mixture on the tops using a pastry brush or spoon.

Sprinkle a generous amout of parmesan cheese over each.

Recipe adapted from: http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/little-caesars-crazy-bread-recipe.html