Shelly's Recipe

PIZZA STICKS - Applebees

Category: Deep Fried

Dipping Sauce:
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 tomato, chopped
1 tbsp diced onion
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp salt and dried basil

Parmesan Pizza Sticks:
1 (10 oz) tube refrigerated pizza dough
2-4 cups oil, for frying
1 3/4 cups grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp fried basil, caraway seeds and garlic salt

Optional:
3 oz each diced pepperoni and Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled

Preheat oven to 425. Prepare dipping sauce by combining ingredients in a small, uncovered saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer the sauce for 1/2 hour.

Prepare the pizza sticky by first proofing the dough. Unroll the dough onto a cutting board and straighten the edges. It should form a rectangle that is longer from left to right that top to bottom. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the middle of the dough lengthwise. This will divide the rectangle into two thinner rectangles that will measure 4-5 inch from top to bottom. Slice the dough from top to bottom into 1 1/2 inch-wide pieces.

You should have somewhere between 20-24 dough slices. Place the sliced onto a greased cookie sheet about 1/2 inch apart and bake for 3 minutes. You may have to use more than one cookie sheet. This will proof the dough so that it becomes stiff.

Heat the oil in a frying pan or deep fry to 350. Oil should be at least 1/2 inch deep. Fry pizza sticks 5-6 at a time for about 1 minute per side or until they are a dark brown. Remove from the oil and drain on a paper towel or cloth.

When all the sticks are fried, arrange them once again on the cookie sheets. You may want to the sheets with foil. Preheat the broiler. Sprinkle with cheeses. Crumble the spices and combine them in a bowl. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the cheese and then add the optional ingredients. Broil the pizza sticks for 2 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve with dipping sauce on the side.