Saturday, December 31, 2011

Butt-kicking breadsticks

Those of you who know Cali know that she is working hard to kick thyroid cancer to the curb!  This week, she started a low-iodine eating plan.  Thyroid tissue and thyroid cancer tissue "sucks up" iodine.  For now, she needs to starve her system of iodine.  That way, when she swallows the radioactive iodine pill (date TBD), the radioiodine will be more effective in kicking cancer's butt.  So for now, it's all about organic.  Bye-bye, Jet's, Jimmy John's and Coldstone. 

Today we made bread sticks in the shape of the ribbon that most people associate with one cause or another.  In this case, the thyroid cancer ribbon is pink, teal and purple.  At least the ribbon has cool colors!  You probably recognized those colors from the CANCER SUCKS bracelet that Cali wears.  Yes, cancer does SUCK.  These bread sticks, however, do not :)

Simple Bread Recipe

Combine the following in a large mixing bowl:
  • Two .25 oz packages fast-rising yeast
  • 2 cups warm water (we put it in the microwave for 45 seconds)
Mix with a fork for a minute or two.

Add:
  • 2 tsp NON-IODIZED salt
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp minced garlic (if you want garlicky bread sticks)
Let the dough raise 5 minutes.  Shape into a ball.  Roll out dough on floured surface.  Cut dough into strips.  Braid and shape into ribbons and place on parchment covered cookie sheet.  Brush with olive oil and bake at 425 for approximately 10 minutes. 

We dipped them in Eden Organic crushed tomatoes with roasted onion and garlic (from Whole Foods).