Pokey Sticks

If you went to a big college town in the midwest (Madison, Iowa City), you probably know what Gumby's Pizza is.  And you have probably had Pokey Sticks a time or two in your day.  Do you remember how good they were?  Oh my goodness, they were like pure heaven with dough and cheese.  Well, now that I am out of college, and don't live near Gumby's, I had to figure out a way to fill the void.  My husband is very grateful that I have! 

Now....If you have never had these, they are a meal.  They could be described as cheesy breadsticks, but they aren't just an appetizer.  Both of our parents had heard us talk about these, but didn't get it.  So finally we made them when they were around.  I think they finally go it, full meal, not just breadsticks!  Think of it as pizza, with different sauce, just cheese, in stick form :)  Dip in Ranch (I have not duplicated Gumby's Ranch, much to my husbands disappointment), or pizza sauce, and you have yourself a delicious, cheesy, buttery, meal.  This has come to be somewhat of a tradition in our house.  Sunday nights...Pokey Sticks and Amazing Race.  Pretty good combination :)  We even have a designated plate that is the "Pokey Stick plate".  If my son sees it in the dishwasher, he gets upset that we may have had Pokey Sticks without him!


Pokey Sticks
Inspiration from Gumby's Pizza
Printable Recipe

Dough
2 1/2 cups flour
1 Tbls Rapid Rise Yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 cup Hot water (115 degrees)
1 Tbls Canola oil

Topping
2 Tbls Parmesan Cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 cup margarine, melted
1 cup Mozeralla Cheese

Mix together the dry ingredients for the dough.  Combine the water and oil, and mix into the dough.  Mix until it forms a ball.  Turn onto floured surface and knead for about 2-3 minutes.  Just until it is no longer sticky.  Put into a bowl sprayed with non-stick spray and let rise for 20-25 minutes, until it looks like this:



While the dough is rising mix together the cheese, and seasonings in a small bowl.  Now, margarine is not usually written into recipes, usually it is butter.  But for some reason I think margarine tastes more authentic in this.  Use whatever you want, but I buy the stick margarine just for Pokey Sticks.  Melt the margarine, and mix in the seasonings.



Spread the dough out onto a prepared baking sheet.  I like to grease it, and then sprinkle with corn meal so the dough doesn't get to soggy.  I just use my fingers to get the dough into about a 12 in circle.  Spread the margarine mixture around the entire surface, and top cheese. 



Bake at 450 degrees, for 12-14 minutes.  Now, when they come out, you have to make sure to cut them correctly :)  Cut once across the middle, and then cut opposite that way, to make little sticks. 

Chicken Burrito Pizza

In case you missed it, Cinco De Mayo was yesterday!  In honor of this holiday I decided to try a recipe that caught my eye in Shape magazine.  I love all things Mexican - chips and salsa, guacamole, enchiladas, tacos, the rice, fajitas....pretty much all of it.  I think I could eat it everyday, and be a happy girl!  There is a big debate in our house about taco pizza.  Is it pizza?  Is it Mexican?  What is it?  My husband prefers to just ignore it and claim it is neither and not eat it.  I on the other hand like it a lot.  I do not claim that it is real pizza, because really if I want pizza I was the greasy, cheesy, pepperoni goodness - not lettuce.  So I put it in a different category all together.  But I don't get it often.  Then I saw this recipe for Chicken Burrito Pizza and I said too bad for him, I was making it!  No lettuce, so he can't complain, right?  It wasn't his favorite, but I didn't expect it to be.  I on the other hand thought it was great!!  I am so excited for the leftovers for lunch today!

I have a tried and true pizza crust recipe, but decided to try Shape's recipe for crust.  It was good, I might have to use it in the future sometime.  They didn't have a calorie count for the crust alone, just for a whole slice of pizza.  A slice of pizza with both of the toppings is only 107 calories.  I had more than once slice, for sure - but if I can feel half way decent about eating Mexican I am ecstatic!  They called for lowfat cheese, which I didn't use, and I am sure I put more chicken on the pizza then they called for.  But that is the beauty of making your own food, right?

Printable Recipe

Pizza Dough

1/2 cup bread flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
6 Tbls cold water

Combine the dry ingredients.  Create a well in the middle and add the water.  Using your hands to gently combine the dough until it comes together (this can take a couple minutes, it is kind of dry).  You can either then knead the dough for 10 minutes or until firm and smooth, or you can put it in your electric mixer.  Use the paddle attachment, set on the lowest speed for about 10 minutes.  Cover with a dish towel, let it rest for 5 minutes.



Roll the dough out to form a 11 inch circle.  Place it on a metal pizza pan with small holes in it.  Let rest again for 45 minutes before you add the toppings.



Chicken Burrito Pizza
Adapted from Shape

For the Pizza
Salsa (2 Tbls - 1/4 cup)
Pizza Crust
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 chicken breast, grilled and diced
4 Tbls black beans (I didn't use these)
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion


For the Pico De Gallo
1 large tomato, diced
1 small green chili, diced
1 Tbls chopped fresh cilantro
3 Tbls red onion, diced
Salt


For the Guacamole
1 large avocado
3 Tbls red onion, diced
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp paprika
Salt and Pepper to taste
Juice from 1/2 of lime

While the dough is resting work on the pico de gallo and the guacamole.

Pico de Gallo - combine tomato, chili, cilantro and onion in small bowl.  Season with salt.  I squeezed a little lime juice on it as well.  Set aside.



Guacamole - Halve an avocado, remove the pit, and scoop out the flesh onto a plate.  Using a fork, mash the avocado.  Mix in the onion and seasonings.  Squeeze in the lime juice.  I always taste test, and adjust the seasonings.  I really depends on the avocado how much salt and other seasonings you need.  So start light, taste and add more if you want.  I usually add in tomato with my guacamole, but because this was using pico de gallo as well, I left them out.



Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Spread salsa over the prepared dough.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Top with the chicken, black beans and onions.  Bake for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the edges of the crust are golden brown.

Slice pizza and top slice with a spoonful of guacamole and pico de gallo.  Enjoy!!