Dinnertime Breadsticks

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 5 1/2 cups bread flour, separated, plus extra for kneading
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt

Directions

1. 1

   In saucepan, heat milk just until steaming. Stir in oil and honey. Set aside to cool.

2. 2

   In large bowl, sprinkle sugar over water and add yeast; let stand for 10 minutes or until frothy. Stir warm milk mixture into yeast mixture. Add 2 cups of flour stirring until mixture is smooth. Let sit for 10 minutes.

3. 3

   With wooden spoon, stir in salt (and chives, thyme and rosemary, if using) and gradually stir in 3 1/2 cups of flour until a soft dough is formed. Transfer to lightly floured surface. Sprinkling surface with extra flour as needed to prevent sticking, knead until smooth and elastic, about 20 minutes.

4. 4

   Cut dough into 28 pieces. With palms, roll each piece into 10-inch lengths. Place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 1-inch apart. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rise in warm, draft-free place for 30 minutes.

5. 5

   Preheat oven to 375°F Brush tops with beaten egg white and sprinkle with seeds or coarse salt. Bake in center of preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.