Garlic Herb Pizza Dough and Soft Garlic Breadsticks

Of course I have to participate on garlic week. This is the best ingredient so far! I made two things out of garlic for one meal, so I am posting both recipes for your recipe pleasure.

Garlic Herb Pizza Dough
from Homemade Pizza Made Easy

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
2/3 cup lukewarm water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 Tablespoon fresh garlic cloves, chopped
1 Tablespoon Oregano, fresh, chopped (if using dried herbs, cut amounts in half)
1 Tablespoon Parsley, fresh, chopped
1 Tablespoon Basil, fresh, chopped
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
2 cups bread flour

Dissolve yeast in water. Place flour in bowl of electric mixer. Add dissolved yeast, oil, water, salt, garlic, oregano, parsley, basil, onion powder, and black pepper. Using dough hook, mix well at medium-low speed (or follow mixer instructions) until all ingredients are incorporated. Knead for a few more minutes. Dust with flour or oil ball and place in a large bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm, draft free area for 1 to 3 hours.

The recipe stopped here, so this is what I did for cooking: I spread the dough on a large, greased cookie sheet and covered the dough with my desired toppings (pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni on one, Alfredo sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, cubed chicken (I precooked the chicken), and basil on another). The recipe didn't give a temperature, so I cooked each pizza at 400 degrees F for about 10-12 minutes. My pizzas turned out great, so I think this temperature and time were good choices.

****I used SAF instant yeast, so I skipped the yeast dissolving step and mixed my yeast with my flour before I added any of the other ingredients. I used wheat flour instead of bread flour. This recipe made one nice sized pizza that almost filled my large cookie sheet.

I would rate this at 4.5 stars. I might serve this pizza at a dinner party, but it would have to be a pizza dinner party. We really like this recipe.

Soft Garlic Breadsticks
from Taste of Home

1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons water (70 to 80 degrees F)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoons sugar
3 Tablespoons garlic powder
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon minced fresh basil or 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
3 cup bread flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon butter, melted

In bread machine pan, place the first nine ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 Tablespoons of water or flour if needed).

When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 20 portions. Shape each into a ball; roll each into a 9 inch rope. Place on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 40 minutes or until doubled.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. Brush warm breadsticks with butter. Yield: 20 breadsticks.

****I don't have a bread machine, so I mixed this in my KitchenAid stand mixer like I do with any other bread dough. I wasn't sure if the bread cycle mentioned in the recipe allowed rising time, so I put my dough in a greased bowl, covered it, and let it rise for about 45 minutes. Then I rolled it into breadsticks and let that rise for another 30 or 40 minutes, then cooked them. I didn't brush them with butter, but I think I will next time.

I would rate this at 5 stars. I would make this for a dinner party. We ate the leftovers with soup the next day. Yum!