Buttery Breadsticks/Pizza Crust

Well, I haven't been living on my budget and with all the "spending more" I actually have very little to show for in my food storage closet. It's seeming pretty thin, but no better time than case lot time to repent right?

The number one easiest way to begin a food storage that you can lean on and really benefit from having is to buy cases of the foods you frequently use. For example, I blow through chopped green chilies and was always frustrated because I thought I had "just bought a bunch of those" and was out again! But my definition of "a bunch" was five (two of which I immediately used in whatever recipe prompted me to buy them). Welcome to the world of cases and no longer making all these emergency trips to the grocery store (not to mention the serious cash you save by not paying whatever the current full price is every time you shop)!

Anyways, if you are a newbie, just buy a case of two staple items and in a few months from now you'll be sold. For me, some good staples that are on sale are:

Harmons> whole dried eggs, $13.99!!!! (The best sale price in the last year has been $18.99 and I love having these on hand. I am out of fresh eggs right now, but still had pancakes tonight for dinner.)
Smiths> Kroger peanut butter, case of 12 18oz jars, $12 (how much do you usually pay for a jar of peanut butter?? at least twice this much right?)
Smiths> tomato sauce, case of 24, $4.80
***Just add 1Tbs or so of Italian seasoning and voila you have pizza sauce!
macy's> diced or whole green chiles, case of 24, $9.36 (that's .39 each!!! I know I've paid as much as $1 for these!)
Macy's> 8 oz cheeses $1.00
**put this cheese in your freezer, pull it out the day before you want pizza and you can have a cheese pizza for $1.39, plus the cost of your yeast, flour and salt. And you thought Little Sleezers was a good deal!

If you want to get more inspired by a full listing of deals, click on the link to the right for "grocery smarts" for free listings to peruse and print or click on "deals to meals" to subscribe to a service that's a little more prepared for you and includes recipes to use the foods that are currently on sale.

Don't think you need an entire case of sweetened condensed milk? post a comment and let the rest of us know. Someone else may want to split it with you. Also, I heard today that Macy's will sell individual cans at the "case lot" price. Other places will not.

Pretty much any bread recipe qualifies as "food storage" right? But not every recipe is this good and SO STINKING EASY!!! I PROMISE you can make this and get praised by your family. Took it to a graduation party this summer and every female wanted the recipe (come on guys, pitch in and learn to cook! :))
I got it from "food storage made easy" (link is in the list). She also does a video of herself making this incase you need more instruction.

30 Minute Breadsticks OR No-Fail Deep Dish Pizza Crust

(If it is too thick for your family, you can either half the recipe or put one full recipe onto two cookie sheets)


2 1/2 C. Medium Hot Water
5 tsp. SAF Instant Yeast*
2 Tbsp. Sugar
3 Tbsp. Oil
1 tsp. Salt
6 C. Flour (you can do half all-purpose and half white wheat or 100% whole wheat)
1 to 2 Cubes of Butter


Directions:
1. Pour medium hot water in mixing bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top and allow to dissolve.
2. Add sugar, salt, and oil. Gradually add approximately 6 cups of flour.
3. Melt 1-2 cubes butter on cookie sheet in oven as it is heating to 400 degrees and melt in oven.
4. Place dough on cookie sheet and press to fill pan, make sure butter gets on top of the dough. If making bread sticks, sprinkle with garlic salt.
5. Allow to double in size (About 5 minutes)
6. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until desired browning is accomplished.
(for pizza, cook 10 minutes, remove from oven, add toppings and cook again until cheese melts)
7. Cut into strips or top with favorite pizza toppings.

* When using regular yeast change amount to 2 Tbsp.