Dip and Bake Mozzarella Sticks

We invited some people over to watch NC State play Miami during the ACC tournament. I had to work that morning and would arrive home at tip-off and didn't have time to really plan any snack foods.

I walked into the grocery store without a clue as to what I was going to get and decided to pick up some hummus and veggie chips and some string cheese and breadcrumbs - I was determined to make some yummy Mozzarella sticks, I never enjoy the freezer section sticks as much as I do at a restaurant. This is the end result!

Ingredients

12 sticks string cheese ( I did half regular, half Jalapeno)
2 large eggs, whisked with 1 tbs milk
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup Italian Seasoned  Panko Breadcrumbs
Marinara sauce, for dipping

Directions

1.  In three separate shallow dishes, place egg/milk mixture, flour and breadcrumbs.

2.  Dip cheese sticks in flour, shaking off excess, then into the egg, then coat with the crumbs. Repeat for each cheese stick, placing them on a baking sheet.

3.  Freeze on sheet for 30 minutes (this is a must or they will melt before the crumbs get crispy).

4.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange oven rack in the bottom third of your oven. Bake 4 to 5 minutes, turn sticks over, and bake an additional 4-5 minutes, watching sticks closely so they don't melt. Serve hot with marinara sauce for dipping. 

I forgot the "watch sticks closely so they don't melt" part - so you can see in the photo that they're a little on the mushy side... but still absolutely delicious! A great game-time snack.