Garlic Knots, Beer, And World Market Summer Of Soccer

This post is sponsored by Cost Plus World Market and #WeAllGrow Latina Network. All opinions and recipe are 100% my own.

My cousin Justine and her roommate are insane soccer lovers. Their favorite team is Mexico, actually during the current soccer matches they have several teams they will be rooting for as it is a process of elimination. My cousin is interested in celebrating her favorite sport this year by having a soccer viewing party. There’s only one problem, she’s never had people over to entertain before. She’s a bit nervous about it but I told her I’d help her with her big soccer entertaining debut. Cost Plus World Market is this Summer of Soccer shopper’s one-stop shop and they would cover all her entertainment needs with foods from around the globe, dish-ware, and gorgeous decor. This gathering was sure to impress her friends and her roommate.

I went over to their place to see what was needed in order to get this Summer of soccer celebration off the ground. The apartment is somewhat of a clean canvas, lots of room for possibilities, we had a great space to work with (Pictured below).

I knew we would find everything we needed at Cost Plus World Market. I said, “Grab your purse let’s go, I can’t wait to introduce you to my favorite entertaining store!” She said “What are you going to serve to eat?” All of a sudden the food task became my job. I told her I’d make our favorite garlic knots served with mustard and spreadable cheese. She gave me her sad eyes and said “The Soccer matches were my dad’s favorite thing in the whole world (he passed away a few years ago), I want to make sure we buy nice beer to toast with when our team makes a GOAL just like he used to.” It was the family tradition. I reassured her this would not be a problem, not only would Cost Plus World Market have a tasty array of top global beers, they would have the glassware to drink them in too! We could cheer and clink our mugs followed by a “GOOOOOAAAAAALL” every time our team scored, just like her dad would do!

We strolled around Cost Plus World Market picking up beer, condiments, cheeses, little candies, olives, artichoke hearts, serving-ware, cutting boards and a few decorative pieces to make her apartment a little more festive and comfy. Cost Plus World Market has unique dining and entertaining products and food and wine from over 50 countries. All at amazingly affordable prices, every day. She couldn’t wait to get it all home.

Justine was all smiles and bubbling over with excitement once we put her living room together. (Pictured above) All she needed now was to fill the room with her soccer viewing squad and lots of loud cheering for her team.

Ingredients for garlic knots:

1 – packet highly active dry yeast (rapid rise)
1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon warm water
1 – tablespoon honey
2 – tablespoons olive oil + 1/3 cup for brushing
4 – cups bread flour
1 1/2 – teaspoons koser salt
3 tablespoons minced garlic
World Market red pepper flakes
basil
1/2 – stick butter

Directions:

In the bowl of a stand mixer add yeast and water and allow to dissolve. Mix it a few times until you know all yeast is dissolved.
Add in honey and mix to combine. The water will be cloudy. This is the sign you are looking for.
Pour in 2 tablespoons olive oil and give another mix. Let water mixture rest for 5 minutes.
While your water/yeast mixture is resting. In a separate medium bowl mix flour, and salt together.
Combine flour mixture with the water mixture in mixer.
Fitted with a dough hook, knead at low for 5 minutes allowing all ingredients to come together.
Increase the speed to medium/high and continue mixing for 5 additional minutes. The dough will start to come away from the bowl, and entangle itself around the the dough hook. Dough will be tacky but not sticky.
Remove dough from mixer and place on a clean flat surface and knead with hands for a minute.
Lightly grease a bowl with a teaspoon of olive oil and transfer dough into oiled bowl.
Form dough into a ball by turning it in the bowl to coat the surface with oil.
Then invert dough onto a large plate and leave dough covered with the bowl sitting on top of the dough acting as a dome for 2 hours at room temperature. At this time the dough will be allowed to rise.
Uncover and knead dough for a minute then divide into 4 equal parts.
Form each part into a smooth dough ball by kneading for a minute or two. Then place all dough balls on a plate and cover with plastic wrap.
Leave them covered for another 2 hours at room temperature. They will continue to rise. Then refrigerate over night or until ready to use. Can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. (If you want to do this portion of the process ahead of time).
Line two large baking sheets with a non-stick baking silicone liner. Set to the side.
Working with one ball of dough at a time, flatten dough and stretch it out as far as you can with out tearing.
Using a pizza wheel slice dough into 1 x 2.5 inch strips.
Using both hands roll each piece into a long snake shaped dough.
Then tie the dough into a knot.
Place the knot on the baking sheet and continue with the remainder of the dough. Remember that the dough will continue to rise, leave some space between each knot.
In a small bowl combine olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and chili flakes. Brush the top of each knot withe oil mixture.
Loosely cover the top of the baking sheet with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
Uncover and bake knots for 14 minutes or until golden on top.
While knots are baking, heat left over olive oil garlic mixture with butter and chopped 1/8 cup basil in a small saute pan over a medium flame.
Remove knots from the oven and brush tops of knots with butter/ olive oil mixture. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
Serve warm with cheese, mustard and beer!
Enjoy!