Cheese Straws

Name: Cheese Straws
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 1/4 pound coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar (1 1/2 cups); 1 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 3/4 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons; 1 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 Rounded 1/8 teaspoon cayenne; 1 1 1/2 tablespoons milk

From the kitchen of Carly

Sharp Cheddar crackers twisted into thin, crispy straws that shatter between your teeth. A whisper of cayenne heat cuts through the rich cheese, making these impossible to stop eating once you start. Perfect for snacking or alongside soup.

Prep: n/a
Cook: n/a
Total: n/a
Servings: 4
Difficulty: medium

Ingredients

4 servings

11/4 pound coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar (1 1/2 cups)
11 cup all-purpose flour
13/4 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
11/2 teaspoon salt
1Rounded 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
11 1/2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F with racks in upper and lower thirds.
Pulse cheese, flour, butter, salt, and cayenne in a food processor until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add milk and pulse until dough forms a ball.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 12- by 10-inch rectangle (1/8 inch thick). Cut dough with a lightly floured pizza wheel or lightly floured sharp knife into 1/3-inch-wide strips. Carefully transfer to 2 ungreased baking sheets, arranging strips 1/4 inch apart. (If strips tear, pinch back together.)
Bake, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until pale golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool completely on baking sheets on racks, about 15 minutes.
Haggipavlu Nemea '04