Cheese Straws - Recipe

Day 55 - Cheese Straws...it's a Southern thing!

Suggestion:  Serve in votive holders wrapped in team-color ribbon

Making party plans for the Super Bowl or looking for alternatives to the grocery store assortment of crackers...try the easy Southern art of baking Cheese Straws.  The dough mixes up in nothing flat and they bake in 5 to 7 minutes.  You can make them spicy hot or just enjoy the cheezy goodness...and the best part is that they are cheap - cheap - cheap!

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose Flour

2 cups grated sharp Cheddar Cheese

3/4 cup Butter

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Salt

1/2 cup Cold Water

For zing, add 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Powder OR add 1 tsp. Louisiana Hot Sauce to the Water

DIRECTIONS

Combine dry ingredients.  Toss with cheese.  Add butter (cut into small pieces) and mix thoroughly until well combined.  Stir in water, a little at a time, mixing to make a stiff dough.

Divide dough into 4 pieces.  Roll one piece at a time into a long rectangle, 4 to 5 inches wide, until it is about the thickness of a pencil.

Cut into strips.  A Pizza cutter works well for this.

Place strips on a greased (or sprayed) baking sheet.

Bake in preheated oven at 400 to 425 for 5 to 7 minutes - until golden brown.

Note: bottoms should be slightly browned.

This recipe makes enough to completely fill a gallon size Zip-Lock bag.

They are wonderful served plain as snack crackers but can also be used with dips.  Try a spicy Creamy Horseradish or cool Cucumber Dill.