I Love Luca Pizza's Stuffed Pepperoni Breadsticks!

Luca Pizza has the most amazing, addictive, yummy, chewy, doughy put a smile on your face stuffed pepperoni bread sticks. I have only had them from one other pizza joint that made them (before they went belly up and closed down) that even came close to that of Luca's stuffed bread sticks.

The cheese sauce is divine as well and has just enough spice to let you know its there. Nothing too hot mind you, just a nice spice.

The cost of 4 of these spectacular bread sticks with one cheese sauce is $3.65

Now, I hate to be a stickler (for the taste alone it is worth the price) but with this economy the way it is now, and with what little money I have, I simply cannot afford to splurge on such luxuries very often. The reason I ever do splurge is if I have been extra thrifty with My money and if I am not feeling well enough to go through the labor intensive process of making them Myself. Sometimes We have to pay for convenience and as a baker/novice Chef Myself I can sure understand that. When I sell products I do add a charge for My time. What that cost is depends on how much labor/time I put into the item being sold. I really haven't sold anything just yet but I have made up a suggested price list and if I ever do sell anything I will let you know how it went.

Not to verge off the beaten path, but I once read an article about having a successful bake sale. One of the main things mentioned aside from having a good variety of products was this: Make a suggested list of prices for each item and ask for donations. Sure you will get some crummy people who will offer you a penny for an item and gladly take that brownie that cost you around 2 or more dollars in ingredients per bar alone. However, the article stated that people that are kind and generous far outweigh those who are cheap and just looking for a handout. Some people they said, would even offer you 20.00 depending on your circumstances or charity event etc.

I think I may try that. Sure, it could bite Me in the rear, but maybe, just maybe I will make it out ahead. (Profit vs/money spent on ingredients).

Another thing that the article mentioned was to offer gift certificates for a homemade meal when the person buying said gift certificate wants it. This would include a main course, perhaps a salad/soup and a dessert item. The cost of each certificate would be 50.00. You could have a list of suggested menus and the client could choose which one they preferred best. Now, for the spendy type client with more coin in his or her pocket, you could offer up a 200.00 gift certificate for a 'gourmet meal'. I have ideas on what menu items to offer including a lovely appetizer list, wine, cheese, or soup and salad (a nice gourmet salad with homemade gourmet dressing of choice) along with main course items such as 'Beef Wellington'. I make a real nice one too. I have pictures if you would like to see just ask. Heck, I may post the pictures anyway because I was very pleased with the way it came out. Now for dessert, I could offer a Creme Brulee (time consuming but oh so pleasing) whats more is I have a torch (nice effect for the guest at time of serving).

So many possibilities. I wish I could get Myself motivated and on the ball to do this as there isn't as much time as We would like to think there is and before you know it, time has passed Us by along with the opportunity to make our mark and shine.

I have a Chefs coat along with a Chefs tote (tall hat) that would look nice at the persons home for guest to see. Impressive eh? I think so.

In any event, as it were, I have really gone off the trail here and need to get back to talking about these bread sticks.

As I stated, I cannot often afford to splurge and eat out so I have to compensate by creating clones of the food items I enjoy. This often takes a lot of trial and error. Not 'failures' mind you, but not exactly what you may have been hoping for either which is an exact replica (as close as you can make it) of the dish you would normally have to pay for.

I did this with the Luca Pepperoni bread stick. I must say it is labor intensive (follow My pizza dough recipe in My prior blog entry) to prepare these tasty sticks of joy. You know, doesn't nearly everything nice take a lot of time? If it didn't, it probably wouldn't be as good would it? I feel that is an accurate statement.

After preparing your pizza dough and rolling it out on a floured surface, simply cut dough into strips about 2 inches wide and twelve or more inches long. Layer a row of fresh sliced pepperoni (or you can use the bagged kind that can be found in your local grocers deli department). After you have placed your desired amount of pepperoni in your row, simply take enough of your overlapping dough and seal over the row of pepperoni. Next roll it over ensuring that you have a nice solid roll and pinch the ends of both sides and tuck under the bread stick. Roll again until you have a nice smooth bread stick without any openings. If you desire, take your egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tbs. water and brush over your bread sticks for a nice shiny sheen. This is attractive and a step that I never skip. I do this on pies as well.

Place all your bread sticks close together on a non-stick baking/cookie sheet or line with parchment paper or spray down your aluminum foil with non-stick cooking spray and bake in a 425 to 450 F. degree oven until golden (or desired browning is achieved.)

Enjoy!

Below are pictures of My homemade pepperoni bread sticks. They taste just like if not even better than Luca Pizza's pepperoni bread sticks. HOWEVER, they take time and sometimes saving up to go purchase some already made is well worth the time saved in preparing these yourself. By the way, I phoned Luca Pizza tonight and found out that they have a happy hour (which is really a happy 1/2 hour) unless I misunderstood the times. Basically what this means is that at 9:30 (one 1/2 hour before they close) all items on their counter are 1/2 off. They would rather sell things half off than to give them away. Whatever is left over they give to their employees to take home. That's cool and makes Me want to work there but it would also be nice if they gave what they didn't sell to a local shelter of their choice. I am sure plenty of things get thrown in the trash can. I went there tonight and purchased some half off items and they had so many pepperoni bread sticks on hand that they were still unloading them out of the oven when I ordered. One of the gals behind the counter asked one of the guys there why there were so many bread sticks tonight? I didn't hear his answer but asked if I could get an even better deal if I purchased even more. (I already purchased 20 of them plus extra cheese sauces as well as two Calzones).

The gal didn't see why not because she said they would probably go in the trash can. You know maybe 60 or 70 percent off instead of just 50 percent. I would be putting more money back into the store right? She said the manager said no. Well, fine by Me. I sure wish they didn't throw those things away though. The manager could have made extra money for his store tonight plus could have fed several people at the same time but chose to be greedy and I decided not to purchase anything else.

Oh well. The bread sticks were good (as usual) and I had a good time eating them while relaxing on the sofa this evening with My hubby.

Well, it is time for Me to close as My eyes are starting to burn. I'll try and stop in real soon with some more recipes and any interesting food news that I hear about.

Until then, keep living, laughing, loving and cooking!
As always,
The Gothic Gourmet.