Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Ingredients:
12 sticks part-skim, reduced sodium mozzarella string cheese (Sargento)
1 large egg, beaten
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp flour
5 tbsp seasoned croutons, crushed
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
5 tbsp panko crumbs
2 tsp parmesan cheese
1 tbsp dried parsley
olive oil cooking spray

Directions:
Unwrap and cut the cheese sticks in half. Place cheese in a container and put in freezer until frozen (about 1 hour).

In small bowl, whisk the egg and water. Place the flour on another small dish. In separate bowl, combine crushed croutons, Italian seasoning, panko, parmesan cheese, and dried parsley.

Dip the frozen sticks in flour, shaking off excess. Then dip into the egg mixture and coat with crumbs.

Repeat this process with the remaining cheese placing them on a tray with wax paper. Place cheese back in the freezer for at least 30 minutes (this is a must; I was impatient and didn't freeze my first batch which casued my mozzarella sticks to flatten out in the oven).

Preheat oven to 400° F. Place frozen cheese sticks on baking sheet and spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks. Bake until crisp, cooking about 4-5 minutes on one side, then flipping and cooking for an additional 4-5 minutes.

These mozzarella sticks are truly tasty and go well with pizza sauce for dipping (or homemade marinara sauce)!  Enjoy them while they're hot!!