E Cooking Resource: For People Who Love to Cook

Spreading It On
Spreading It On Image
Recipe Description:
Serve these breadsticks, crackers, etc with these spreads:
White Bean Spread With Sage, Lima Bean Spread With Cumin And Herbs, Greek Split Pea Spread, Lentil Tapenade.

Instructions:
- Pita Crisps:
Cut 4 pita breads into 8 triangles each. Split each triangle in half at the fold and arrange, rough-side up, on a baking sheet. Toast in a 425°F oven for 8 to 12 minutes, or until light golden. Serve the same day. Makes 64 crisps. 10 calories, 0 grams fat each.

- Poppy-Seed Breadsticks:
On a lightly floured surface, roll 1/2 pound pizza dough into a rectangle roughly 18 by 6 inches. Cut crosswise into 1-inch strips. Twist each strip gently and arrange on a lightly oiled baking sheet. With a fork, blend 1 egg white with 1 tablespoon water; brush lightly over breadsticks. Sprinkle with 11/2 tablespoons poppy seeds. Bake in a 450°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until browned. Serve the same day.
Makes about 18 breadsticks. 50 calories, 1 gram fat each.

- Sesame Crackers:
On 2 lightly oiled baking sheets, arrange 4 flour tortillas in a single layer. With a fork, blend 1 egg white with 1 tablespoon water; brush lightly over the tortillas. Sprinkle the tortillas evenly with 1 tablespoon sesame seeds; season with salt. Bake in a 400°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until light golden. Break into large irregular pieces. (The crackers will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week.)
Makes about 16 crackers. 30 calories, 1 gram fat each.

- Classic Crostini:
Cut a 16-to-20-inch-long baguette into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast in a 400°F oven, turning slices over once, for 8 to 12 minutes, or until they start to brown. Serve shortly after baking.
Makes about 30 crostini. 40 calories, 1 gram fat each.

- Polenta Crostini:
Cut a 16-ounce package of prepared polenta into 1/2-inch-thick slices; pat dry. Brush 1 teaspoon olive oil over the bottom of a large cast-iron grill-pan or skillet, and teat over medium-high heat. Cook the polenta slices in polenta batches until crusty, about 3 minutes per side. Serve hot.
Makes about 16 crostini. 20 calories, 0 grams fat each.