Because I made a big pot of tomato sauce yesterday, I wanted homemade bread sticks for spaghetti tonight and Mr. Beachy’s Butter Dips were the perfect choice! A quick and easy dough to assemble these little treats are a just-right accompaniment for any pasta dish.
A note about Mr. Beachy: He is the proprietor of a fantastic store deep in the Amish country in Arthur, Illinois. My sister, Mamie, and I love to visit the store for its amazing array of fresh herbs and spices, the vast selection of flours of every kind and texture, dozens of bags of diverse tapioca grains, and the awesome choices of fresh baked goods. If you ever find yourself near Arthur, DO visit Mr. Beachy and his family! We make the trip as many times a year as we can manage and it is worth every mile traveled. Two of the thumbnail photos above I included to give you an idea of the huge variety of the merchandise at Mr. Beachy’s! The store itself is a baker’s Heaven!
The ample amount of baking powder in this recipe ensures a great rise to the bread. I roll them out almost an 1″ thick so there is plenty of substance for soaking up the accompanying sauce with which I serve them. Since I was using them with pasta and sauce today, I sprinkled them with a dash of garlic salt before baking. The small sticks have an almost biscuit-like flavor with nicely browned and crunchy edges.
If you are a pasta-sauce-bread person, these will please you with every bite. They are also delicious without the garlic and accompanied with a bit of jam or jelly for breakfast. However you decide to feature them, you’ll be happy with the results. Enjoy!
Mr. Beachy’s Butter Dips
Ingredients
1/3 cup butter
2-1/2 cups flour
3-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup milk
1 T. sugar
1-1/2 tsp. salt
Directions: Preheat oven to 450. Melt butter in bottom of 9×13 glass baking dish. Combine remaining ingredients and stir well with a wooden spoon in large mixing bowl. When dough forms a ball, turn out on a floured surface and roll out 3/4” to 1” thick. Cut dough into strips 1” wide and about 5” long. Roll in the melted butter in the baking dish and lay strips side by side in pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Serve warm.