Halloween Breadsticks (Bones With Blood!)

Proofing The Yeast

1. In a bowl add the sugar, warm water and the active dry yeast (measured or one packet) and stir. This can be done right in the base of a stand mixer or in a separate bowl. The water you use should be warm to the touch, but not super hot or you may kill the yeast.
2. Allow the yeast to set for 5-10 minutes. This is called proofing, and allows the yeast to begin to grow and expand. Your mixture should turn frothy looking on top, and should smell a bit earthy. If the yeast doesn’t have frothy bubbles on the top after 10 minutes, you may need to try again with new yeast.

Making The Dough

1. Mix together the flour and salt. Add the flour mixture and olive oil to the yeast mixture.
2. Using a dough attachment on an electric mixer, mix until the flour combines for about a minute. Turn the speed up on the mixer to medium and mix for 3-5 minutes. The dough should be stretchy, a little sticky but smooth and pull away from the bowl when you pull the dough hook out.
3. Oil a bowl generously. Transfer the dough to the bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Place the dough in a warm place to allow it to rise for 50 minutes or until doubled.

Shaping The Dough

1. Prepare a baking sheet using parchment paper or a light spray of oil. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Add a light sprinkle of flour to a clean surface and to the dough and knead 3-4 times. Divide the dough into twelve equal pieces on the lightly floured surface with a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
3. Divide the dough into two even pieces. From the first portion divide the dough into 18 pieces, each about the size of a golf ball. Roll and shape each of the 18 pieces into long cylinder breadsticks, each about 4-5 inches long.
4. From the second portion of dough divide it into 18 equal pieces, then divide each of those pieces in half. You should have 36 round pieces of dough. Attach one round piece of dough to each end of the long cylinder dough by pinching it together.
5. Use clean kitchen scissors and snip a 1-inch slit in the middle of each dough ball. Then gently pull the cut sections to make them resemble the ends of bone on both ends of each breadstick.
6. Place the bone breadsticks the prepared baking sheet. You can brush them with a little melted butter or olive oil if you prefer.

Baking The Breadsticks

1. Bake the bone breadsticks at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Optional Garlic Topping

1. While the breadsticks bake, mix together melted butter, garlic, and salt. Brush the butter mixture on freshly baked breadsticks when they are warm from the oven. Sprinkle with grated parmesan and serve with marinara "blood" dipping sauce and enjoy.