Cheese Straws

Well, I never got around to making the muffins yesterday..these cheese straws won out!

And although I tried at different times throughout the day to post this recipe, my computer must have needed a nap..because it just wouldn't load the photos:(

But we're back today with Cheese Straws..easy to throw together using a food processor. Just three ingredients, really, not counting cayenne pepper, and the end result..so good! Flakey, cheesy cheese straws..great with drinks or anytime you'd be wanting a little snack. My son, Kris, said they reminded him of cheez-its..they do!

The only problem... you can't eat just one!

The recipe says to grate the cheese using the attachment from the food processor (I was too lazy to try and figure out how to use it) so I just used my box grater.

Then just throw the flour, butter and grated cheese into the food processor...

And pulse til it begins to clump together.

Then place it onto some plastic wrap. I divided the dough in half to speed up the time before baking since the recipe says to chill the dough overnight, but I wasn't having any of that!

This half I wrapped in a disc...

This half I rolled out between 2 pieces of plastic, before I put it into the fridge so it would be quicker to roll out later.

Then after it takes a rest in the fridge, just take it out, (this is the prerolled one), and roll it a little more to get it between 1/8" to 1/4" thick.

Cut strips, using any zig zag kind of knife or tool you can find. Make the strips about 1" wide by about 3" long.

Then bake in a 400 oven for only 8 minutes..watch them so they don't brown too much.

Then just try not to eat them all... so good just out of the oven!

Cheese Straws (from Winerthur's Culinary Collection)

Makes about 4 dozen

1 pound extra sharp cheddar cheese ( use a good quality)

1 3/4 cups AP flour

3/4 cup of butter

A few dashed cayenne pepper

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1. Grate cheese, either on grater on food processor or using a box grater.

2. Using the steel blade of your food processor, mix all ingredients together til it begins to hold together.

3. Place dough onto plastic wrap and wrap and chill overnight. (You can divide dough into sections to make rolling out easier and quicker later, see my notes above.)

4. Preheat oven to 400.

5. Take the dough out of the fridge and roll out to 1/8" to 1/4" thickness. Cut with a knife or tool with serrated edge into strips 1" wide by 3" long.

6. Bake on an ungreased baking sheet for 8 minutes, or til they get puffy and lightly golden..but watch them to be sure they don't get too dark.

Note: You can freeze the dough to bake at a later time. Just roll out the dough to about 1/4" thickness between 2 pieces of plastic and wrap and place into a zip loc bag. Then let the dough thaw to cool room temp.