Bake It Quick

Homemade bread doesn't get any easier than this.

The hardest part of making these breads is waiting until they're cool enough to eat. You won't even need a mixer. Pop open a can of refrigerated French bread dough, and get a fast start on a hot and crusty loaf of Sausage Bread. Stir up a batch of Biscuit Breadsticks, or bake a pan of Hush Puppy Muffins. All are ready for the oven in 15 minutes or less. -MARY ALLEN PERRY

Hush Puppy Muffins

MAKES 1 ½ DOZEN

PREP: 10 MIN., BAKE: 10 MIN.

Baked in miniature muffin pans, these crisp, golden muffins deliver deep-fried flavor without all the fat.

2/3 cup cornmeal

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

½ small onion, minced

1/3 cup fat-free milk

1 large egg, beaten

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1/8 tsp. pepper

1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients, stirring just until blended. Spoon batter evenly into lightly greased muffin cups in miniature muffin pans, filling three-fourths full.

2. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until muffins are golden brown.

POLLY BLOODWORTH

ATKINSON, NORTH CAROLINA

Biscuit Breadsticks

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

PREP: 10 MIN., BAKE: 14 MIN.

Pair these cheesy breadsticks with a warm bowl of marinara sauce for dipping.

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

¾ cup milk

3 Tbsp. butter, melted

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Stir together first 4 ingredients. Gradually add milk, stirring to form a soft dough.

2. Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 5 or 6 times. Pat or roll dough into an 8- x 4-inch rectangle. Cut lengthwise into 8 (½-inch-wide) strips. Arrange strips on a lightly greased baking sheet; brush evenly with melted butter.

3. Bake at 450° for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, and sprinkle breadsticks evenly with mozzarella cheese. Return to oven, and bake 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. DANA M. HEBERT

WELSH, LOUISIANA

Sausage Bread

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

PREP: 10 MIN., COOK: 5 MIN., BAKE: 30 MIN., STAND: 10 MIN.

1 (1-lb.) package ground hot pork sausage

1 (11-oz.) can refrigerated French bread dough

1 ½ cups shredded pizza cheese blend

1. Cook sausage in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until sausage crumbles and is no longer pink. Remove from pan; drain well, pressing between paper towels.

2. Unroll dough into a rectangular shape on a lightly greased baking sheet; sprinkle evenly with sausage and cheese. Beginning with 1 long side, roll up, jelly-roll fashion. Turn, seam side down, on baking sheet, and pinch ends to secure filling inside. Cut 3 (¼-inch-deep) slits across top of dough with a sharp paring knife.

3. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until browned. Remove from oven; let stand 10 minutes before slicing. DONNA TEAL

PLANO, TEXAS

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Pillsbury Crusty French Loaf.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation May 2006
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