Farmer cheese bread sticks

If you tried making my yogurt puffs, this recipe will seem familiar. I removed the sweet components and put in savory ones. I made three different tastes from one batch of dough. These are great, not just for gatherings at the holidays, but with a pasta dish!

4 c AP unbleached flour +
1 tsp salt
2 1/4 tsp dry active yeast (1 packet)
1 1/2 c Maple Hill Creamery plain yogurt, room temperature
1 whole egg, room temp (Wintergrass, Sweetgrass, JFF or Mountain view)
2 egg yolks, room temp*
1/2 c Kriemhild Butter, room temp
1/2 c Gaia's Breath lard, room temp
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 lb Mountain View Dairy Farmers cheese, shredded
dried herbs of choice (I used thyme and marjoram)
kosher salt
4 tbsp Kriemhild butter melted

*eggs separate easier when they are still cold. You can freeze the white for up to 6 months.

In a sauce pan over med heat stir together the yogurt, egg, yolks, butter and lard. Heat until butter and lard are just about melted (no more then 120 degrees F).

Meanwhile place 2 c flour in mixing bowl and stir in cheese, yeast and salt. Using dough hook and machine on low, slowly drizzle in yogurt. Stir to combine, Add in additional flour, 1/2 c at a time until dough clings to hook and pulls away from sides of bowl. Dough will be very soft, supple and buttery.

Place dough in a bowl, no need to oil. Cover with a towel and let rest for 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven 375 degrees F. Line 3-4 baking sheet pans with parchment paper.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out to about 1/2" thick rectangle. Fold top third down, then the bottom third up over, like a business letter, Rotate 90 degrees and roll out again. Do a business letter fold, rotate. Repeat one more time.

Roll out to 9" x 14" (roughly). Using a pizza cutter, cut strips about 1/4-1/2" wide. Twist and place on a parch line baking sheet. If you are adding dried herbs, sprinkle them over the dough and lightly press in before slicing. (I cut so many plain, then sprinkle thyme, cut so many and so on)

Brush with melted butter and sprinkle lightly with salt.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Remove to cool on a rack.