This recipe for French breadsticks will complement the lightest of lunches or the most substantial of suppers!

Note: the original form of this recipe is found in The Southern Heritage’s cookbook, Company’s Coming!

Ingredients:

• 1 package of dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 1 ¼ cups of warm water
• 3 ½ cups of divided all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons of salt
• Cornmeal
• 1 egg white
• Coarse salt

Directions:

1. Pour the yeast and sugar into a large mixing bowl and dissolve both into temperate water.
2. Let the yeast/sugar/water mixture stand for 5 minutes.
3. Gradually add in 1 ¼ cups of flour and the salt, mixing everything together until just moistened.
4. Slowly add in the remaining flour, mixing until the result is a stiff dough.
5. Turn the dough out onto a surface that’s been heavily floured.
6. Knead the dough for about 8 minutes, or until it’s smooth and elastic.
7. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease the top of the dough, too.
8. Cover the dough in the bowl and put in in a warm place (about 85 degrees Fahrenheit) for an hour until it has doubled in bulk.
9. Punch the dough down, and turn it onto a surface that’s only been lightly floured.
10. Knead the dough until it becomes smooth, then let it rest for about 10 minutes.
11. Grease two baking sheets, sprinkle them with cornmeal, then set them aside.
12. Divide the dough into fourths, then use a pair of kitchen shears to clip each fourth into eight equal portions.
13. Roll each of the portions into a pencil-like breadstick that’s about 9 inches long.
14. Place the breadsticks about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
15. Lightly brush the breadsticks with half of the egg white.
16. Let the breadsticks rise in a warm (again, about 85 degrees Fahrenheit) location for about 30 minutes, or until they’ve doubled in bulk.
17. Use the remaining egg whites to brush the breadsticks.
18. Sprinkle coarse salt over each of the breadsticks.
19. Place a shallow pan containing 1 inch of water on the bottom rack of the oven.
20. On the top rack of the oven, place the two baking sheets.
21. Bake the breadsticks at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, or until they become golden brown.

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