Serving Up {Bread}: AMAZING breadsticks

I know that I shouldn't LOVE breadsticks as much as I love these - but I just can't help it.  They taste an awful lot like some breadsticks served at a well known Italian restaurant, except even better because they come from your very own oven, warm and delicious!

They also happen to make a perfect accompaniment to this lasagna, or to this soup, or to pretty much anything.  I made them three times last week!  There, I admit it, I have a breadstick problem.  The problem is that they are REALLY easy to make and REALLY good.  I dare you to make them and not develop the same problem :)

AMAZING BREADSTICKS     Pin It
(recipe from Your Homebased Mom)
printable version

1/4 cup warm water
1 pkg. yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
2 Tbs. sugar
4 1/4 cup flour
2 Tbs. butter, softened
1 Tbs. salt
1 1/4 cup warm water

topping:
3 Tbs. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. oregano

Place 1/4 cup warm water in a mixing bowl, add sugar and yeast. Allow the yeast to proof for 5 minutes.  Add the flour, butter, salt and 1 1/4 cup water to the yeast mixture and mix until the dough has formed.  Add additional flour until the dough is soft and smooth and workable.

Place the dough on a floured surface and cut into 16 even pieces.  Roll each piece into a 7-8 inch breadstick.  Place on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Cover with a cloth and allow to rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes, or place in a warm oven (preheat to 150 degrees and then turn OFF).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine topping ingredients.  Once breadsticks have risen, brush each breadstick with the butter mixture - using approximately 1/2 of the mixture.  Bake for 12 minutes, or until lightly golden.  Remove from oven and brush with the remaining butter mixture.