Breadsticks

Mike and I love Olive Garden, mainly for their insanely good breadsticks!  It's a good thing we don't have an Olive Garden in our town or we'd be there way too much!  When I saw this recipe that claimed to taste like Olive Garden's breadsticks, I was intrigued and knew I had to try it.  I first made these breadsticks for just Mike and I, we both liked them, so I made them again when we had everyone over for Mother's Day dinner.  They were a huge hit!  We all thought they were delicious, though I must say they were not quite as soft as Olive Garden's...maybe I need to put more butter on them!

You will need:

3/4 cup warm water (about 110 degrees)
1-1/8 teaspoon yeast
1 Tablespoon margarine, melted
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt

2-1/4 cups flour

1 Tablespoon margarine, melted

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1.  In the bowl of your stand mixer, dissolve yeast in warm water.  Let it sit at least 5 minutes, until yeast bubbles. 

2.  Add melted margarine, sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture.  

3.  Mix in the flour using your dough hook.  Knead for 2-3 minutes.

4.  Cover the dough and let it rest for 45 minutes.  

5.  Shape into 8-10 breadsticks and place on greased cookie tray.

6.  Bake at 400 for 7 minutes.

7.  Meanwhile, mix together melted margarine, salt, and garlic powder.

8.  Remove breadsticks from oven (after 7 minutes) and brush with melted margarine.  Return to oven for 8 more minutes, until lightly browned.  

9.  Brush warm breadsticks with remaining margarine. 

Source:  Finding Joy in My Kitchen

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