Slow life while healing!

I got up this morning and began to pack clothes into the suitcase!  You know all the extra stuff I thought I should bring back to Kansas just in case.  And now I am equally convinced to take it back to Arizona as well.

Well that didn't last too very long, as I tired of thinking about the trip and then worrying about the trip and how well I will be able to stand the car ride.  I do need to get myself together a little better, as we have really moved back into the house and spread things all around.  Really!  There can't be that much to pack, because it all has to fit back into the back of that little Honda CRV!  But no matter, I will forget stuff just the same.

We both spent the day just kind of hanging out.  Loyce was reading some of the blog posts here on Retired Rod, and that always gets me into trouble for telling things that aren't like she experienced them. So I caught some trouble over my attitudes......  LOL!

By mid afternoon, I was off in a cooking mode again surfing the internet for the best bread stick recipe.  I found one that claims that it was better than Olive Garden's.  Really?  It was very simple and mostly just a rehash of the roll recipe that we all call the quarter cup recipe.  But no eggs and just water.  So I made it up in the bread maker.

It was too dry, so I had to watch the dough as it was mixing and add water a tsp at a time until it cleaned the sides of the pan.  Otherwise it was just white bread with more butter in it and 2 tbs of sugar.  When the dough cycle stopped, I knocked it down and hand kneaded it a bit before cutting about 18 sticks and rolling them out on the counter in long rope sticks.

I filled the brownie sheet clear full, and let it rise for 30 minutes in the oven, which was barely warmed for a minute or so before turning it back off.   About 15 minutes of bake time at 350* and yes!  They were softer and spongier than Olive Garden's.

I cooked up a pound of turkey sausage and a jar of marinara which I added to a small package of whole wheat spaghetti, and we were in business for a "multi plate full" supper.  I think I ate half the pan of sticks myself.

Caused me to dose off after supper for a while too. Yep we're eating pretty good here!

Retired Rod


Since I will get emails requesting this I'll just add it right now....
(Copied from the internet with creative commons rights)


Easy Italian Breadsticks Recipe

1 cup warm water  (Plus 2 tsp if dry in the bread machine)
3 Tablespoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 cups flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

Topping:

2 Tablespoons butter (melted)  (I used 4 TBS)
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese  (I skipped this as my Parmesan was ooooold)

Place ingredients in your bread machine in order listed. (I creamed the yeast for about 5 minutes in the warm water and sugar.) Run the dough cycle. When complete, divide the dough into 12 (I did 18 for smaller sticks) balls and form into 4-6-inch ropes. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes or until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.