Happy Valentine’s Day to all my readers! Or should I say, “Happy GALentine’s Day!” This is the holiday dedicated to LOVE and that can be for your boyfriend or hubby or your Gal Pals. Celebrating love and friendship go hand in hand so enjoy the day whichever way you choose.

I like to have a few sips of Simoneau wine and one of Brenda’s breadsticks before I go out to celebrate the holiday. I usually sip while I am getting ready and the breadsticks are just enough to keep hunger at bay before dinner. You can get Simoneau wine by calling 707-921-2722. Here is Brenda’s recipe, (my sister in law) for her delicious breadstcks which pair well with Simoneau wine. Bon Appetit!

Brenda’s Breadsticks

This recipe will make 30 delicious breadsticks, variations are kalamata olive or cheese sticks

Ingredients for Basic Dough

1 1/3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon dry yeast

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup room temperature water

To make the kalamata dough increase flour to 1 1/2 cups and finely chop 20 pitted kalamata olives to add to dry mix.

To make cheese dough add 2 1/2 ounces finely chopped Pecorino or Parmesan cheese.

Prepare:

1. Once the dry ingredients have been mixed with the water, place the dough on a work surface that is lightly dusted with flour. Shape into 5 inch rectangles, half an inch thick. Place the dough on a lightly oiled surface (use baking spray or olive oil) that you can cut on. Oil the top and and cover with plastic wrap, let rest for 30 minutes.

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. Now comes the magical part! Cut a piece of dough across the 5 inch width the size of a finger.Pick the dough up and gently stretch it and place the dough on the parchment paper. This must be as long as you want and no wider than 1/2? inch. ?As these cook they will double in width but not length so think thin!

4. As you pull the sticks place them one inch apart on the parchment lined cookie sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and heat oven to 350 degrees.

5. Remove the plastic wrap, bake for 10 minutes, then turn the pan and bake another 10 minutes. Watch the cooking process, sticks should be golden.

6. Remove f?rom? oven and let cool, these are crisp and delicious and will last for a while in a tight container. Serve them upright in a decorative glass.

HINTS: The cheese breadsticks are the trickiest, you can flip them over once during baking. The olive breadsticks are the trickiest to stretch, roll them a little.

DELISH!