Armenian Choereg (Breadsticks)

Not exactly the crispy texture of a bread stick, a little more tender. Go to your local Middle Eastern Grocery or health food store for the black seeds (Black Nigella). This is a crucial ingredient for the nutty taste. These are great with coffee or tea for breakfast or a snack. Makes alot and they last forever stored in a large plastic container. Armenians like to cook in groups, so it helps to have a partner with this one!

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 60
• Yields: 60 breadsticks

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 lbs flour or 8 -9  cups flour
• 1  tablespoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  cup  scalded milk
• 1 (1/4ounce) package  yeast
• 1⁄2 cup warm water (about 105 degrees)
• 1⁄2 cup  Crisco
• 1⁄2 lb butter
• 1⁄2 tablespoon nigella seeds (black seeds)
• 2  eggs
• 1  beaten egg
•  sesame seeds

Directions

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water.
2. Heat milk and turn off heat. Add butter and Crisco to melt and cool milk.
3. If you have a large Kitchen Aid Mixer, add all ingredients except beaten egg and sesame seeds. If not, you will need to mix all in a large bowl and knead by hand.
4. Add enough flour to make a soft slightly sticky dough.
5. Knead 10 minutes in mixer or with oiled hands.
6. Allow to rise until double in bulk. Around 2 hours.
7. Oil hands and punch down. Pull off a hunk of dough and roll out with your hands to a long rope.
8. Slice on the diagonal in 5 inch pieces. Make sticks or circles or braid three pieces together, if desired.
9. Place on a cookie sheet an inch apart.
10. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
11. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until light brown.