October 30th is National Breadstick Day #BreadstickDay dinner just needs to be warmed up and I was thinking Rolls would be nice with dinner. Although, David might prefer #Biscuits.. Instead I was thinking Bread Sticks would go good because were having Italian Pork Chops, and I also made Bar B Que Pork Chops for anyone who didn’t like the Italian Pork Chops. With Red Roasted Mashed Potatoes for me and Ranch Style Beans with Ice Tea and White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies for dessert. Would you like to join us for dinner this evening?
If not you should still take the opportunity to celebrate the Breadstick on National Breadstick Day, which is an annual event on the last Friday in October; this year’s celebration occurs on October 25th. Breadsticks are slender sticks of baked crispy dry goodness invented in Italy. Aside from their crunch, the best thing about Breadsticks is they can be eaten as an appetizer or you can dress them up with all manner of culinary embellishments including Cheese.
It seems the original Breadsticks, known as Grissini, originated in the Piedmont region of Italy in the late 1600s, though food historians don’t all agree on the origins of Breadsticks. One such telling begins when the young Duke, Vittorio Amedeo II di Savoia, turned nine. Duke, Vittorio Amedeo II di Savoia, had already suffered from intestinal disorders that affected his ability to eat as well as his physical development.
Duke, Vittorio Amedeo II di Savoia, mother asked the court physician to find a remedy to feed her son. The physician, who had great intellect, pinned the blame on food poisoning from Bread polluted by pathogenic intestine germs. The doctor himself had suffered from similar intestine disorders. His remedy at the time? His mother’s homemade Bread, “well leavened, well baked with little crumb and very crisp.”
The doctor asked a local baker to reproduce the Bread Sticks for the Duke. It worked. Vittorio recovered and eventually became a King. The crisp Grissino became the preferred Bread in the Savoia household. Thus, visiting royalty and aristocrats of the time all had a chance to try it out. Just four years after Duke Vittorio ate his first Breadstick, heavy demand for the product made it necessary for officials to set a ceiling price. The question for some is did Breadsticks really cure the Duke? It seems possible that diners had enjoyed Grissini earlier than that but it does make for a good story.
National Breadstick Day Activities
- People take their Breadsticks seriously on National Breadstick Day, we challenge you to find the restaurant in your area with the best Breadsticks. To accomplish this task you need to gather your crew and visit at least three restaurants. Order only Breadsticks and decide on which restaurant to crown the National Breadstick Day winner. Stay away from Chian Restaurants today find Mom & Pop Places.
- Do you have a presentation coming up at work? Imagine the look on your colleagues’ faces when you step up to the podium, whip out your Breadstick and commence to present. Let’s just say that your presentation will never get lost in the noise. You will definitely make an impression.
- He’s a Democrat and she’s a Republican. Instead of a war of words, how about a duel with Breadsticks and after you’ve poked each other with your Breadsticks, the original argument is forgotten and you get to sit down and eat your weapons.
Why The World Tastes Better With Breadsticks
- Although there are several versions of how Breadsticks were created, the only thing everybody agrees on is that Breadsticks are made of Bread, enjoy an Italian heritage, and taste good.
- Did you know Napoleon installed a Stagecoach Service between Torino and Paris primarily as a way to escort Breadsticks to the Emperor, who called them “little sticks of Turin.”
- The main directive to 14th Century bakers was to bake crispy Breadsticks without burning them.
- Spanish Breadsticks, known as Rosquilletas, are primarily served mostly in the Castello de la Plana region
Why People Love National Breadstick Day
Even though most Breadsticks are pointy, small kids can eat Breadsticks without getting hurt. Breadsticks are wonderful snacks for children because they hold their shape well and won’t dribble down their sleeves like Ice Cream. Breadsticks are filling but will still leave the right amount of room for the afternoon or evening meal.
Consider the joy of creating something magnificent from ordinary ingredients. Take ordinary Bread Dough rolled and sliced into strips. Set a moderate heat for your oven, and bake your delicious, Homemade Breadsticks for 20 to 25 minutes or until they are a shimmering, golden brown and serve them fresh either without anything or Butter or Spaghetti Sauce although I have a friend who likes to dip her Breadsticks in Ranch which I will pass on.
The question is — what can you do with Breadsticks like adding conventional toppings like Butter or Cheese or be daring. Turn your Breadsticks into dessert, slathered in Cinnamon Sugar and the decadent Icing of your choice. I believe I will pass on having Breadsticks as a dessert. What about you? Don’t forget you can dip Breadsticks in your favorite Olive Oil (genuine Italian, if you please) or scoop up a tantalizing dip of your own design.
Recipe for Breadsticks
Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 10 min Yield: 2 dozen
Ingredients
- 3 to 3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 package (1/4 ounce) quick-rise yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup 2% milk
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water, divided
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 large egg white
Directions
- Combine 1-1/2 cups flour, yeast, sugar and salt. In a small saucepan, heat milk, 1/4 cup water and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat on medium speed just until moistened. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough.
- Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.
- Punch down dough. Pinch off golf ball-sized pieces. On a lightly floured surface, shape each into a 6-in. rope. Place on greased baking sheets 1 in. apart. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400°. Beat egg white and remaining 1 tablespoon water; brush over breadsticks. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
